Change of use of forestry shed and compound into a storage and maintenance unit for portable site offices and toilet units together with creating a new access
LOCAL MEMBER:
Councillor Sion W Jones
Minutes:
Change of use of forestry shed and compound into a
storage and maintenance unit for portable site offices and toilet units
together with creating a new access
The
Members had visited the site.
Attention was
drawn to the late observations forms
a) The Development Control
Team Leader elaborated on the background of the application, noting that this
was a part-retrospective full application to use the site and existing
structures to keep and repair mobile site offices along with toilet units in
the form of portaloos and portcabins. The application would result in
closing the existing access. The existing building would be used for an office,
storage area and open space to undertake maintenance work to the mobile
structures. The open area to the north would be used for staff parking requirements
(x4), a turning space for heavy vehicles and for keeping the structures
outdoors. A part of the site is already
being used for outdoor storage purposes.
It was expressed that the previous
application (C15/1362/18/LL) to change the use of a barn/forestry mill building
to be used as a storage area and enclosure for industrial use with an internal
office and associated land to be used as a storage area for portacabins refused
in February 2016. It was refused on the grounds that the scale of use was too
large and incompatible with existing present uses, without proving the special
local needs as well as the potential of increasing traffic that could cause
harm to the amenities of the occupiers of Rhos y Wylfa. An appeal had been
lodged against this decision and the appeal had been dismissed on the grounds
that the proposal would harm the character and appearance of the countryside,
failure to justify that the proposal is sustainable, along with its detrimental
impact on the amenities of the occupiers of Rhos y Wylfa based on disturbance
and noise.
Since
then, the Local Development Plan had been adopted, and policies had changed. It
was noted that the requirements and the considerations were different and that
the applicant had responded to the concerns of Rhos y Wylfa by moving the
entrance and planting the existing track which would consequently mitigate the
impact. It was added that the principle of reusing and adapting rural buildings
for business and industry use was based in Policy CYF6 which stated that
proposals would be approved to convert rural buildings for business use
provided that a number of criteria listed in the report could be complied with.
It
was accepted that the site would have an impact but, having weighed up the
impacts, it was considered that the application was now acceptable. Heavy
vehicles would not pass Rhos y Wylfa and by imposing relevant conditions, it
would be possible to manage how movements would be operated in order to
minimise the impact on the residents. It was noted that the Transportation Unit
had accepted the proposal.
b) It was proposed and seconded to approve the
application.
c) During the ensuing discussion the following
points were highlighted by an individual Member:
·
That there was
a need to ensure that a long-term forestry management plan would be included
with the conditions
RESOLVED to
approve the application
Conditions
1. In accordance
with the plans.
2. Restrict
maintenance activities within the building and restrict the outdoor storage
areas.
3. Highway
Conditions in relation to closing the existing access to vehicles and create
the new access and driveway.
4. Condition
for measures to mitigate for the loss of trees as included in the Trees Survey.
5. Hours of operation restricted to
8:00-18:00, Monday to Friday; 8:00 - 13:00 Saturday and no working at all on
Sundays and Bank Holidays.
6. Restrict
the use of the site to B2 use (general industry) and B8 (storage and
distribution) only.
7. Withdrawal
of permitted development rights regarding extensions to the existing building.
8. The
installation of more than one level of mobile structures on the site will not
be permitted.
9. Agreement to be reached on the details
of the surface and foul water drainage system within the site with the Local
Planning Authority before the building is used for any purpose.
10. Long-term
forestry management plan.
Supporting documents: