Agenda item

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the next planning application, number 140754 application for erection of 2no. additional poultry buildings and associated infrastructure. Land off Gulham Road, North Owersby. He requested the Officer introduction who stated there was one update to the report for an additional condition to be attached. The previous units had to adhere to a Heavy Goods Vehicle Management Plan and this condition was to ensure any new units also needed to comply with that plan.

 

The Chairman invited the one registered speaker, Mr Alec Mercer, applicant, to address the Committee.

 

Mr Mercer stated that the application sought permission to expand existing poultry farming on the land. He explained the business had been operation since 2018. He noted there were no objections from the statutory consultees and the site itself was in a good location in operation terms. It was in a remote location, well away from neighbours and settlements. He explained that most objections had been regarding the highways impact of the development, however, all commercial vehicles using the site had designated access via the A631. He detailed the route to the site and noted it was deemed to be the least impactful of any possible entry routes. He explained that he had invested over £100k in improvements to the road network which had been in agreement with the Highways Authority. This included passing places, junction improvements and some resurfacing works. Prior to submitting the current application, advice had been sought form the Highways Authority who agreed that the increase in scale of the development was acceptable, subject to the developer agreeing further improvements to the highway, in the form of increased passing places and localised road widening along the route to the site. These further improvements had been agreed. He highlighted that the majority of farming work occurred in rural locations with only single road access, the situation of this enterprise was no different. He addressed other objections received, such as concerns over odours, however they had strict environmental controls in place for odours and other emissions and the site had never received any complaints against them in the time they had been operational. Environmental Health Officers had thoroughly scrutinised the application and offered no objections to the scheme. He requested that the Officer recommendation be followed and for the expansion of the business to be supported.

 

 

The Chairman thanked Mr Mercer and, with no further comment from the Officer, invited comments from the Committee Members.

 

Members of the Committee praised how the developer had worked with highways to alleviate previously raised concerns and noted there had been no complaints raised against the business. A Member commented that it was disturbing to see chickens in sheds such as these, however, having been moved, seconded and with a majority vote it was agreed that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

 

Conditions stating the time by which the development must be commenced:

 

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

Reason:To conform with Section 91 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

 

 

Conditions which apply or require matters to be agreed before the development commenced:

 

2. No development shall commence until a surface water drainage scheme has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.   The scheme shall:

 

• be based on sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydrogeological context of the development;

 

• provide details of how run-off will be safely conveyed and attenuated during storms up to and including the 1 in 100 year critical storm event, with an allowance for climate change, from all hard surfaced areas within the development into the existing local drainage infrastructure and watercourse system without exceeding the run-off rate for the undeveloped site;

 

• provide attenuation details and discharge rates which shall be restricted to 5 litres per second;

 

• provide details of the timetable for and any phasing of implementation for the drainage scheme; and provide details of how the scheme shall be maintained and managed over the lifetime of the development, including any arrangements for adoption by any public body or Statutory Undertaker and any other arrangements required to secure the operation of the drainage system throughout its lifetime.

 

No building shall be occupied until the approved scheme has been completed or provided on the site in accordance with the approved phasing. The approved scheme shall be retained and maintained in full, in accordance with the approved details.

 

Reason: To ensure that the permitted development is adequately drained without creating or increasing flood risk to land or property adjacent to, or downstream of, the permitted development and in accordance with policy LP 14 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

Conditions which apply or are to be observed during the course of the development:

 

3. The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the following drawings:

 

Location Plan IP/MF/02 date March 20; Proposed Site Plan IP/MF/03 date Jan 20; Proposed Elevation and Floor Plans IP/MF/04 date Jan 20

 

The works shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and in any other approved documents forming part of the application.

 

Reason: To ensure the development proceeds in accordance with the approved plans in the interests of proper planning.

 

4. Work shall be carried out on the site in accordance with the “recommendation for mitigations and further survey work” of the Ecological Appraisal prepared by Craig Emms and Dr Linda Barnett dated January 2020.

 

A plan or other information showing the positions of the hedgehog boxes ;  bird and bat boxes placed on the site in accordance with part of these recommendations must be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval in writing prior to bringing the hereby approved buildings into use.

 

Reason: In the interests of biodiversity in accordance with policy LP 21 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

Conditions which apply or relate to matters which are to be observed following completion of the development:

 

5 No part of the development hereby permitted shall be occupied before the works to improve the public highway by means of a scheme of highway improvements in accordance with Dwg. No. 15382-05, 15382-06A and 15382- 09 have been submitted to, approved and certified complete by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: To ensure the provision of safe and adequate means of access to the approved development in accordance with policy LP13 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

6. No part of the development hereby permitted shall be occupied until an odour and manure management plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The details agreed shall be implemented in full for the duration of use of the approved poultry units.

 

Reason: In the interests of the amenities of neighbouring dwellings in accordance with policy LP 26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

7. No part of the development hereby permitted shall be occupied before the Landscaping Scheme shown on plan IPA20826 11A prepared by ACD Environmental dated September 2016 previously submitted on the applicants behalf with the reference 136306 or a scheme first submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority has been confirmed in writing as complete by the Local Planning Authority. Any trees or plants which within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

 

Reason: To ensure that an approved landscaping scheme is implemented in a speedy and diligent way and that initial plant losses are overcome, to ensure that a landscaping scheme to enhance the development and to provide increased opportunities for biodiversity on the site is provided in accordance with Policies LP 21 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

8. The hereby approved units shall be operated in “Compliance with the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for reducing ammonia emissions (Published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2018)”

 

Reason: As mitigation recommended by Natural England without which the development would damage or destroy the interest features for which Kingerby Beck Meadows and Normanby Meadow Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been notified and in accordance with policy LP 21 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

 

9. The hereby approved units shall be operated in accordance with the Heavy Goods Vehicle Management Plan approved on 28th January 2018 with the reference 136306.

 

Reason: In the interests of the highway safety and the amenities of neighbouring dwellings in accordance with policies LP13 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

Note:              The meeting adjourned at 8:22pm