Agenda item

Application: 2022/0852/OUT

Location: Royal Oak Inn, Main Road, Hirst Courtney

Proposal: Outline application with all matters reserved for erection of up to 7 dwellings.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application which had been brought before Planning Committee on 5th October at the request of the Ward Councillor, on the following grounds: that the site of the former public house has been disused for a lot of years and is an eyesore for the village, which needs addressing; and, that there is a public house close by and this application will much improve the character and appearance of the village.

The application was deferred for a site visit, which was undertaken on the 31st of October 2022. Further to this, the application was brought back before Planning Committee.

Members noted that the application was for an outline application with all matters reserved for erection of up to 7 dwellings.

The Committee asked the Senior Planning Officer to clarify whether Policy SP4 of the Selby District Local Plan referred only to development on non-allocated sites within Development Limits of Secondary Villages. Members also asked when the Development Limits were last reviewed and why the car park is not included as part of a ‘brownfield’ site.

The Senior Planning Officer confirmed Policy SP4 only referred to land within Development Limits. The Senior Planning Officer explained that the Development Limits follow the built form of the settlement and do not necessarily include land that goes beyond the built form. It was explained that the car park did constitute previously developed land as per the NPPF definition. The assessment was whether the land could be developed as the presumption to develop in the NPPF, it should not be assumed that it should. The current Development Limits were being reviewed as part of the current Local Plan review.

PDL definition in NPPF. Assessment of whether should be developed, presumption that can, but shouldn’t be assumed that it should

Planning Agent Sam Dewar was in attendance and spoke in favour of the application.

Members debated the application further noting that, contrary to the claims of the Planning Agent, the application does not comply with Policies SP2Ac or SP4 of the Selby District Core Strategy Local Plan and the site is outside the linear Development Limits set by the Planning Inspector. It was also noted that the report stated that insufficient evidence had been submitted regarding the marketing of the site to avoid the loss of a community facility and is therefore contrary to Policy S3B of the Selby District Local Plan.

The Committee also noted that Hirst Courtney and the surrounding area contained three licensed premises serving a population between 250 and 300 residents and that the Royal Oak had been closed for a decade meaning its redevelopment represented no loss of a community facility. Support was shown to approve the application.

It was proposed and seconded that the application be GRANTED against the Officer recommendation subject to conditions reserved to the Head of Planning Services in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of Planning Committee and the completion of a legal agreement to cover financial contributions towards public open space provision and waste/recycling. A vote was taken on the Proposal and was carried.

RESOLVED:

That the application be APPROVED subject to conditions reserved to the Head of Planning Services in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of Planning Committee and a planning agreement to cover financial contributions towards the provision of public open space and to provide for waste/recycling services.