Agenda and draft minutes

The Vice-Chair (Planning) advised of the procedure to be followed during the planning part of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dickinson and Towns. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee held on Monday 11 September, as circulated, are to be agreed and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee held on Monday 11 September 2023, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

To request the committee to decide the planning applications attached to this report using the powers delegated to it. 

Please note that printed letters of objection/support are not circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

The report requested the Committee to decide the planning applications attached to the report using the powers delegated to it. Members were reminded of the principles which should govern their consideration of the applications, the procedure for handling representations, the requirement of conditions and the need for justifiable reasons for the granting of permission or refusal of planning applications.

Demolition of existing building and replacement with a single dwelling including proposed garage and bin store

Land South-West of Gubeon Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland

Demolition of existing building and replacement with a single dwelling including proposed garage and bin store

Land South-West of Gubeon Farm, Morpeth, Northumberland

Councillor Sanderson left and then returned to the meeting during consideration of this item and therefore took no part in the deliberation or decision.  Councillor Wearmouth joined the meeting during consideration of this item and therefore also took no part in the deliberation or decision. 

T Wood, Principal Planning Officer, provided an introduction to the report with the aid of a power point presentation.  There were no updates.

Councillor M Sharp addressed the Committee speaking on behalf of Mitford Parish Council (MPC).  His comments included the following:-

·       Following initial concerns that the proposed building would dominate the site, MPC now supported the application as they were satisfied that it would not be overbearing, was well designed and would use materials that would sit well in the setting.

·       MPC wished to challenge two arguments in the report which had been made to justify refusal, both of which conflicted with policies of MPC and the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan (MNP).

·       This was a former farm with stone outbuildings, one of several within Mitford Parish, some of which had been converted for housing, some derelict with very few continuing to function as farms.  MPC policy was to encourage the repurposing of derelict and underutilised farm steadings to both help grow the rural economy and to provide housing to support that economy.  This position was reflected in policies SUS1 and SET2 of the MNP and was consistent with the rural employment strategy in the Northumberland Local Plan (NLP). 

·       Everyone wanted to see a vibrant and diverse rural economy, but there was no need to build business parks and housing estates in the countryside to achieve this, rural Northumberland was littered with old farm buildings begging to be repurposed and this should not be discouraged.

·       It was within the Green Belt but it was on the site of a derelict barn and enclosed on two sides by converted farm buildings, it was screened by woodland and hedging on the other sides.  It would not impact the open countryside, would not compromise the intent of the Green Belt and would be a vast improvement to the existing.

·       The report stated that the proposal failed on sustainable travel grounds and like many rural parishes, Mitford had no public transport and no local shops.  If this rule was applied over zealously, much of rural Northumberland and our heritage would be doomed to further decay. The answer would be to encourage the provision of more bus services, not restrict the economic development in a Country which was largely rural.  Sites such as this should be treated as an exception to this rule.

·       This site provided employment through its equestrian operation, provided four housing units and this proposal would add an attractive family home to the mix. 

·       Members were urged to use common sense in considering this proposal as this would be a quality development which would replace  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Proposed rural workers dwelling, consisting of retention and extension to dwelling located on site

Land At East Of La Luna Farm, Mill Lane, Heugh, Northumberland

Proposed rural workers dwelling, consisting of retention and extension to dwelling located on site

Land at East of La Luna Farm, Mill Lane, Heugh, Northumberland

T Wood, Principal Planning Officer provided an introduction to the report with the aid of a power point presentation.  There were no updates.

Harry Horrocks addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application on behalf of a large number of local residents.  His comments included the following information:-

·            Local residents had witnessed the applicant and family leave the site late at night and return early in the morning on numerous occasions with the site being left unattended for periods of time.   This had been outlined in a number of objections.  In spite of this evidence officers had concluded that there was an essential need to be on site.

·            There were technological solutions available should the site be left unattended. Local properties had been for sale which would have provided alternative accommodation, or a caravan could be used to cover the foaling season. The British Equine Society guidance stated that a 24/7 presence was a nice to have. It could not therefore be understood how the conclusion that there was an essential need had been reached.

·            Even if there was an essential need, which was strongly refuted, the applicant had to prove that the essential need outweighed the harm to the Green Belt.  By merely stating that approval had been given under Appeal on the last application was not sufficient, and this was different as that was for a temporary dwelling but this application was for a permanent and bigger dwelling.

·            Both local and national policy required local planning authorities to ensure that substantial weight was given to any harm in the Green Belt with the report not sufficiently applying this substantial weight and only briefly covered views.

·            The UK economy had approximately one million job vacancies and precious Green Belt did not need to be destroyed to create one job.

·            Members were urged to consider the views of the local residents, with 72 people signing a petition against this development. This showed the extent to which people were devastated by the destruction of the openness of the Green Belt.

·            The onus was on the applicant to provide sufficient evidence yet no full balancing exercise had been conducted by the applicant to analyse the harm to the Green Belt. 

·            The Officers conclusion on the impact on the openness of the Green Belt,  quality of design and essential need were in stark opposition to the local residents and Parish Council’s views and Members were urged to protect the precious Green Belt.

Hannah Wafer addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  Her comments included the following:-

·       The proposal would retain the temporary dwelling within the Green Belt which had been permitted for three years by the Inspector in 2020.

·       It had been demonstrated that very special circumstances did exist to allow the agricultural dwelling within the Green Belt. 

·       The Inspector in allowing the three year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

For Members’ information to report the progress of planning appeals.  This is a monthly report and relates to appeals throughout all 5 Local Area Council Planning Committee areas and covers appeals of Strategic Planning Committee. 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.