Creation of site for 12 safari tents
LOCAL MEMBER:
Councillor John Brynmor Hughes
Minutes:
Creation of site
for 12 safari tents
(a) The
Development Control Officer elaborated on the background of the application,
noting that the application had been deferred at the Committee meeting held on
19 March 2018 in order to hold a site visit. Some members had visited the site
prior to the meeting.
Attention
was drawn to the proposal along with the considerations and responses to the
public consultation within the report, and no late information was received in
this case.
In
assessing the application, the main consideration was policy TWR5 of the Local
Development Plan which requested that camping sites be of high quality in terms
of design, layout and appearance, and that they be sited in an unobtrusive location
which was well screened by existing landscape features. Attention was drawn to
the fact that the tents were of a significant size and were larger with the
timber platform. From the site visit, it could be seen that the site was in
open countryside and within the sensitive landscape of the AONB. Although the application contained proposed
landscaping, it was considered that it was currently not screened well. It was
not agreed with the visual impact assessment report submitted with the
application which alleged that the impact of the proposal was limited. It was noted that the site could be seen
clearly from the adjacent road, from the nearby public footpath and that there
would be views of the tents across the AONB. Although it was not contrary to
all the requirements of Policy TWR5, it did not meet with the policy's main
aims which required that sites be unobtrusive in the landscape. Also, it was
noted that the proposal was contrary to policy AMG1 and that the AONB Officer
was concerned about the development's disturbance on the rural location.
Although there was a connection with the Grade II listed building, it was not
considered that it could be refused on this basis.
Although
transportation and biodiversity matters were acceptable, the planning officers
recommended to refuse it because it was contrary to policies TWR5, PS19 and
AMG1 as it would create an obtrusive feature in the landscape and would have an
unacceptable impact on the AONB.
(b) The
Local Member (not a Member of this Planning Committee) supported the
application, and he made the following main points:
·
That safari tents were the subject of the
application and they would be dismantled at the end of the holiday season
·
Attention was drawn to the fact that there was one
up on the site and that the canvas colour was in keeping with the background
·
That the application was a different new venture
·
Looking from the road, rows of caravans could be
seen in the AONB and the tents would be in keeping with the landscape
·
In terms of biodiversity, the applicant had spent a
great deal to landscape professionally with trees that would be suitable for
the area
·
The landscaping would be carried out in autumn this
year, and it was intended to erect the safari tents next year
·
In light of the above, the applicant received a
statement of good practice
(c) It
was proposed and seconded to refuse the application.
During
the ensuing discussion, the following main observations were noted by members:
·
No reason to refuse this could be seen, as the
tents were smaller in size than caravans
·
Concern that the AONB Officer and the Community
Council objected
·
Concern that the economy depended on tourism for
the AONB and, from the site visit, it could be seen that the proposed
development would have an impact on the beauty of the area.
(ch) In
response to the above observations, the officers noted that:
·
The tents were substantial in size, of
a brown / dark green colour
·
The recommendation was firm in terms of
the AONB as it was in an extremely sensitive location
·
Whilst accepting that there were cases
where such a venture had been supported in the past, those locations were
acceptable
RESOLVED to refuse the application.
Reason:
The proposed site, owing
to its location, setting and appearance in the landscape, would stand out as a
prominent and intrusive feature in open countryside and would have a
detrimental impact on the landscape and on the visual amenities of the Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty. Furthermore, the proposal would be located in a
prominent site and would not be well screened by the existing landscape
features. The proposal is, therefore, contrary to Policy PS 19, AMG 1 and TWR 5
of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Joint Local Development Plan (July 2017) and
Supplementary Planning Guidance: Holiday Accommodation, Gwynedd Council.
Supporting documents: