Agenda item

Change of use of land and the siting of a repurposed train carriage to provide 2no holiday let properties

Land South of Ivangill, Station Road, Stannington, Northumberland

Change of use of land and the siting of a repurposed train carriage to provide 2no holiday let properties.

R Soulsby, Planning Officer provided an introduction to the report with the aid of a power point presentation.  He advised that a further condition was proposed to be included to any permission granted as follows:

“The development hereby approved shall solely be used for the purposes of holiday let accommodation and shall not be used for any other purpose unless written approval from the local planning authority advises otherwise.

Reason: To protect the amenity of neighbouring residents in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.”

In response to questions from Members the following information was provided:-

·       The site remained on Green Belt any development would not remove that status.

·       Highways had been consulted and they had not stated that the development would impact on the highway and its current speed limit of 40 mph.

·       It would a decision for Members to take on whether they considered that visual amenity had been harmed, however the railway carriage was not readily visible from the highway and was only visible once within the curtilage of the site itself.

·       Additional details could be requested in respect of any proposed accessible access to the development or a ramped access could be conditioned.

·       No changes had been proposed to the external appearance of the railway carriage however a condition could be added regarding the external appearance.

·       The proposal complied both with the principle of development and also the Castle Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan in that it supported tourism and was also acceptable within the Green Belt.  Members however might consider that the visual amenity outweighed those principles, however taking account the setting of the area, on Station Road and adjacent to the railway Officers considered there was some connectivity.  Conditions could be used to ensure that if it was not used then it should be removed and to control the colour and appearance.

Councillor Towns proposed acceptance of the recommendation with the conditions as outlined in the report and with the additional condition as outlined above and with additional conditions related to:

(1)  the external appearance and maintenance of the railway carriage.

(2)  a robust condition regarding landscaping and that the carriageway should not be visible from the road or other residential properties.

(3)  its removal and the land to be restored to its former green space if the railway carriage ceases to be used for holiday accommodation for a period of 12 months or more.

(4)  additional information to be provided in relation to suitable accessible access to the railway carriage.

With the precise wording of the conditions to be delegated to the Director of Planning.

Clarification was sought on the external appearance, in that it was to be maintained in the existing colour or whether it was required to be painted a different colour.   Councillor Towns stated that he was proposing that the colour remain as existing and the condition would be more to ensure that the external appearance was not allowed to deteriorate and it be kept in good condition.   Councillor Darwin advised he would second the proposal if a slight amendment was made in relation to the removal of the carriage if it ceased to be used for holiday accommodation for a period of 12 months and remove “and more” which would provide a definitive timeframe.

Further discussion took place on the condition regarding the appearance and it was stated that it should be made clear that any change of colour would need to be agreed by the Local Planning Authority.  In relation to the landscaping, following discussion Councillor Towns agreed to withdraw his proposal in respect of not being able to see the carriageway and would rely on condition 7 as outlined in the report.  Councillor Darwin advised that he was happy with this.   Further debate also took place on the proposal regarding the railway carriage to be accessible as it was considered that if the carriage was not accessible then this was not a reason to refuse the application.  It was suggested that if the Committee were minded to approve the application this could be subject to the applicant submitting a revised plan to deal with the accessibility and other conditions and if acceptable the Director of Planning could grant permission.

The proposal was clarified as:

Members be minded to grant permission with the conditions in the report and additional condition regarding the use as holiday let accommodation only and the following additional conditions related to:

(1)    the external appearance and maintenance of the railway carriage

(2)    the railway carriage should be removed and the land to be restored to its former green space if the railway carriage ceased to be used for holiday accommodation for a period of 12 months

(3)    additional information to be provided in relation to the suitability of the railway carriage in relation to being DDA compliant and on receipt of this information permission be issued by the Director of Planning, with delegated authority to the Director of Planning and the Chair to agree the precise wording of the additional conditions

A vote was taken on the proposal as follows: FOR 9: AGAINST 0; ABSTENSIONS 1.

RESOLVED that members be MINDED TO GRANT PERMISSION for the reasons and with the conditions outlined in the report and additional condition regarding the use as holiday let accommodation only as above and the following additional conditions related to:

(1)  the external appearance and maintenance of the railway carriage

(2)  the railway carriage should be removed and the land to be restored to its former green space if the railway carriage ceased to be used for holiday accommodation for a period of 12 months

(3)  additional information to be provided in relation to the suitability of the railway carriage in relation to being DDA compliant and on receipt of this information permission be issued by the Director of Planning, with delegated authority to the Director of Planning and the Chair to agree the precise wording of the additional conditions