Construction of shed for storing materials and machinery in connection with construction business.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Anwen Davies
Minutes:
Construction of shed for storing materials and machinery in connection
with construction business.
(a) The
Development Control Officer elaborated on the background of the application and
noted that the application site was located in the countryside and within the
Landscape Conservation Area designation and near the Llŷn
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Reference
was made to a previously refused application for an agricultural shed, it was
noted that officers had not been convinced that an actual agricultural need for
a new shed on the site had existed, considering the activity and the builders'
use made of the existing agricultural shed and yard. It was noted that should
the existing shed and yard be established and authorised, by means of a
certificate for the existing use as a builder's yard (as suggested in
correspondence and pre-application advice which is noted above), an application
for a new shed would then be considered under a different policy namely policy
B8, Expansion of Existing Enterprises, of the GUDP. Under current
circumstances, it would be difficult to justify a new shed on the site at
present.
It is
considered that the proposal is tantamount to erecting a new industrial
building in the countryside, where there is no justification or exceptional
location needs in existence to justify a new builder's shed on the site. The
proposal was contrary to policies D5, D7 and C1 of the GUDP.
(b) Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant noted the
following main points:-
·
That he came from an agricultural background but
that the construction business had taken over in the past 15 years;
·
That he employed local people;
·
That he needed a suitable place to keep machinery;
·
That the business
depended on a shed near his home;
·
That relocating the
business would have a negative impact on him and his employees.
(c) The application was supported by the Local
Member (who was not a Member of this Planning Committee), and she made the
following main points:
·
That the business had existed for years and that
the agricultural activity had reduced over the years;
·
That he employed local people;
·
Moving the business to another location would be
unsuitable and would increase traffic;
·
That he needed a suitable place to keep machinery;
·
That the proposal would allow a business in the
countryside to remain in its locality and would keep money local.
(ch) In response to these observations, the Senior
Planning Service Manager noted, in line with the advice provided before
submitting the application that the applicant should take steps to legalise the
use made of the existing shed.
(d)
It was proposed and seconded to defer the application so that the
applicant submitted an application to legalise the use made of the existing
shed.
In
response to a question by a member, the Development Control Manager noted that
the applicant had noted that he would be able to prove its use for a period of
9 years and that this would be close enough to the need to justify use over 10
years so that an application to legalise use could be considered.
A
member noted that it was important for the business to remain in this location.
RESOLVED to defer the application.
Supporting documents: