Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the second application, 142675, Hamilton Hill, opposite Poplar Farm, Tealby Road, Walesby and asked the planning officer for an update. She wanted to recommend a further condition be added that was not on the report. That prior to the first use of the site that a small footway section and tactile crossing be installed to gain access to the farm over the road which contains a restaurant/café. The Committee saw photos and plans of the site.

 

The first speaker for this application was David Thurman from Walesby Parish Council.

 

“Thank you and good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm David Thurman, Chairman of Walesby Parish Council.

 

We are of the opinion that this application should be rejected. This is the third such application on the sites of Poplar Farm and Hamilton Hill, which is opposite to Poplar Farm, which I think was originally part of Poplar Farm. Poplar Farm was a traditional Lincolnshire farm raising Lincolnshire Red Cattle very much fitting into the environment and I do remember when it was such.

 

This application and the previous two across the road at Sunnyside are replacing that farm and so the agricultural land which wasn't part of the original farm with a very large holiday camp more suited to a coastal holiday resort like Skegness, and totally inappropriate in an area of great landscape value bordering on the AONB.

 

The three applications together contain a provision for parking of 128 cars, two per chalet at peak, moving around and on and off the site bringing traffic issues, light pollution issues and noise issues.

 

This whole project has not been totally supported by the experts, your own planning decisions for the first two applications, 139788 and 141422 limited the number of cabins to maintain and enhance the rural character of the area, the setting of the Lincolnshire Wolds the AONB and to protect wildlife, and in accordance with policies LP2, LP 17 and LP 26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

Lincolnshire Wolds countryside services include for this application the cumulative impacts from the change of use from agricultural land as submitted in this application will be detrimental to the rural character of the AGLV and the wider setting of the AONB. The findings of the landscape and visual impact assessment suggests that the development would indeed have an impact upon the longer views from the AONB. With regard to Hamilton Hill and its historical past, no one seems to be saying that because of that, the development should not take place. Those commenting on the historical perspective, are still reserved in their opinions. Sir Edward Leigh did not feel that the development interfered with the historic setting, but did feel that the site should be officially designated a site of historical interest.

 

LCC historic environmental officer says that the site is a feature in the historic landscape, and that should be taken into account with regard to planning application. Historic England has concerns regarding the application on heritage grounds.

 

Taking all this into account, it is still Walesby Parish Council’s view that this application should be rejected, at least until the impact of the environment and the economic sustainability of the two sites already approved has been seen. Thank you.”

 

The Chairman introduced the second speaker on this application, Mr John Casswell, the applicant.

 

“Good evening. An awful lot of time has been spent on the design of this application predominantly focussing on environment. The lodges are eco-friendly and aren’t a fixed structure. The roads and bases will be recycled and there will be no fixed concrete. The natural timber cladding exterior of the lodges blends in with the surrounding.

 

The plan is of low density and the lodges are 21 metres apart, instead of the six metres. Only 22 lodges on the 26 acres is extremely low in terms of numbers per acre. The site is to be sown with wildflower seed mixes to create a habitat and benefit the ecology, even more than what is present.

 

With regards to the history of Hamilton Hill all the concerns have been professionally addressed with positive outcomes. An archaeological survey found no significant evidence of the uprising. All authorities have been satisfied with the findings and don't wish to stop the grant of permission.

 

Sir Edward Leigh was concerned of the history, however, I invited him for a site visit, he was satisfied that the application wouldn't affect the area. Sir Edward was particularly happy with the application with regards to the design to site the lodges is at the bottom of the hill, and especially that they weren’t a fixed structure. The Historic Environment Farm Environment Record, HEFER, which is a government based report. The whole of Poplar Farm has no historical findings.

 

If the site was so important there wouldn't be a major pipe running through the application site. An underground reservoir on top of the hill, a telephone mast, and a BMX bike track on top of Hamilton Hill. Tim Allen of Historic England confirms that the site is undesignated heritage asset and has no designation as an art Historic Site. This is where I've taken time to carefully design the application by citing the lodges at the bottom of the hill to lower the visibility, as opposed to right on the hill itself.

 

Natural England have no objection to the visual survey that will impact from the development, the site is not located in AONB and is two miles from Tealby and Walesby. The EA states there is absolutely no flood risk. Applications such as they should be supported due to climate change, and is very likely future floating on the Lincolnshire coast will result in holiday destinations being lost.

Highways have no concerns. I've worked with Lincolnshire Highways to construct a new culver and swale at my own cost to correct the damage of part of the road, which was there before I bought the farm back in 2018. With regards to previous lodges sited the pandemic has had a huge effect on the development and still is. I managed to put the services in put still await the lodges. However, this doesn't reflect on future applications. All objections have been addressed and there is no problem. The UK holiday market has massively grown and is here to stay. And this is why I am prepared to prepared to invest in the local area. West Lindsey District Council Growth has supported this application, which also generates a huge amount of money, the local economy. The planning application has been recommended for approval by the West Lindsey’s Rachel Woolass, and therefore meets planning policies. This application will be constructed biodiversity friendly, and therefore highly sustainable. Thank you for your time.”

 

The Chairman thanked the speakers and invited further comment from the Officer. She emphasised that the site was already established as a visitor facility. Conditions placed on previous applications that numbers were restricted so the site did not have as many units built as possible to protect the landscape. This restriction was only for that site and the same restriction had been added for this application site. The landscape report conclusion was that the experience of the AONB qualities would not be harmed. It was a non-designated heritage asset but was on the Historic Environment Record now so would be flagged up on any future applications.

 

The Chairman invited comments from the Committee. Members acknowledged the support from West Lindsey Growth Team, the historical interest and that it encouraged visitors to the AONB and the benefits. One member asked if the lodges for use all year round. The officer responded that the lodges were only for holidays and not permanent residential.

 

It was moved and seconded that the report was accepted, it was unanimously agreed that permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions and the addition of:

 

Condition - Prior to the first use of the site that a small footway section and tactile crossing

 

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 take place until a final landscaping scheme including details of the size, species and position or density of all trees/hedges to be planted, details of any removal of hedges, details of the height and materials used for any boundary treatments and the surface material of the parking spaces have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: To ensure that appropriate landscaping is introduced and will not adversely impact on the character and appearance of the site to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework and local policies LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 2012-2036

 

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

 

3. With the exception of the detailed matters referred to by the conditions of this consent, the development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the approved plans:

Forresters Lodge Elevations and Floor Plan

The Strand Elevations and Floor Plan

dmc 20605/002 Rev A

dmc 20605/003 Rev A

dmc 20605/004 Rev A

dmc 20605/005 Rev A

and in any other approved documents forming part of the application.

 

Reason: To ensure the development proceeds in accordance with the approved plans.

 

4. Prior to the installation of any external lighting, details of the lighting scheme (including a light spill diagram) including luminance shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall then be implemented in strict accordance with the approved plans and retained as such thereafter.

 

Reason: To maintain and enhance the rural character of the area, the setting of the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB and to protect wildlife and in accordance with policies LP2, LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

5. The development hereby approved shall only be carried out in accordance with the recommendations set out in the Ecological Appraisal dated April 2021 by Ecology & Forestry Ltd.

 

Reason: In the interest of nature conservation to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework and local policy LP21 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 2012-2036.

 

6. No development shall take place during the bird breeding season (1st March to 31^st July) in any year until, a detailed survey is undertaken to check for the existence of bird nests. Any active nests shall be protected until the young fledge. Completion of bird nest inspection shall be confirmed by a suitably qualified person and a report submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before any demolition works commence.

 

Reason: In the interest of nature to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework and local policy LP21 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 2012-2036.

 

7. No erection of the log cabins shall take place until details of the proposed surface water and foul water drainage have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved details must be in place before occupation of the log cabins

 

Reason: To ensure satisfactory drainage arrangements are in place in accordance with policy LP 14 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

8. Before the access is brought into use all obstructions exceeding 1 metre high shall be cleared from the land within the visibility splays illustrated on drawing number DMC 20605/005 Rev A dated March 2021 and thereafter, the visibility splays shall be kept free of obstructions exceeding 1 metre in height.

 

Reason: So that drivers intending entering the highway at the access may have sufficient visibility of approaching traffic to judge if it is safe to complete the manoeuvre.

 

9. Within seven days of the new access being brought into use, the existing access onto Tealby Road shall be permanently closed in accordance with details to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason: To reduce to a minimum, the number of individual access points to the development, in the interests of road safety.

 

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

 

10. The maximum number of log cabins on the site shall not exceed 22.

 

Reason: This was the number considered acceptable to maintain and enhance the rural character of the area and the setting of the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB and in accordance with policies LP2, LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

11. All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the occupation of the lodges or the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner; and 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, in the interests of the visual amenities of the locality and in accordance with policies LP17 and LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

 

12. The accommodation hereby permitted shall only be used for holiday accommodation and shall not be used to provide any unit of permanent residential accommodation.

 

Reason: To accord with current planning policies under which continuously occupied dwellings would not normally be permitted on the site to accord with the National Planning Policy Framework and local policy LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 2012-2036.