Change of use of land for the stationing and storage of rural worker caravans overwinter and the provision of associated hardstanding, drainage and landscaping.

The proposal sought a change of use of land for the stationing and storage of rural worker caravans over winter and the provision of associated hardstanding, drainage and landscaping. 

Members’ attention was brought to the main agenda papers and late observation sheet which gave further information and made amendments to condition 3 within the report.  The Chairman checked that everyone present had had sufficient time to read the late observations.

The Committee was addressed by the following speakers:

Against the Application:    Mr. J. P. Quirk

For the Application:          Thomas Ogden (Agent)

Parish Representative:      Andrew Campbell (Penshurst Parish Council)

Local Member:                 Cllr. Coleman

Members had no questions of clarification for the speakers but asked questions of clarification from the officers. In response to questions, the siting and use of the caravans was clarified.  It was confirmed that condition 8 covered the fact that the use of the caravans was in association with the agriculture of the adjoining agricultural unit and for no other purpose; and condition 9 required restoration of the site after cessation of the use.  Members were advised that it would be in line with the previous temporary permissions to add condition 5 from the previous report for 17/02111/FUL which related to access, and that there was no reason why a parking condition could not be imposed but it would need to be justifiable.

It was moved by the Chairman and duly seconded that the recommendations in the report as amended by the late observations along with the addition of a new condition 11 (condition 5 from 17/02111/FUL as discussed above) concerning access from the south east, be agreed.

Members discussed the character of the area, need and function of the site and noted it was screened and limited the number of caravans.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved:  That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions –

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

In pursuance of section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2)     The caravans shall not be brought onto the land until full details of soft landscape works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. Those details shall include: planting plans (identifying existing planting, plants to be retained and new planting); a schedule of new plants (noting species, size of stock at time of planting and proposed number/densities); and a programme of implementation. The local planning authority is satisfied that it is fundamental to the development permitted to address this issue before development commences and that without this safeguard planning permission should not be granted. The approved details shall be implemented within the first planting season after approval.

To safeguard the visual appearance of the area as supported by Policies EN1, EN5 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

3)     If within a period of five years from the implementation of the development, any of the trees or plants that form part of the approved details of soft landscaping die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased then they shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species.

To safeguard the visual appearance of the area as supported by Policies EN1, EN5 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

4)     No floodlighting, security lighting or other external lighting shall be installed or operated at the site, other than in accordance with details submitted and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Such details shall include a statement as to the need for the lighting, the hours and frequency of operation, the areas of illumination and beam angles, and the number and location of any lighting. Only the approved lighting shall be installed and maintained thereafter.

To protect the amenities of the area as supported by Policies EN5, EN6 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

5)     At no time shall there be more than 4 caravans stationed or stored within the area of the application site as shown in blue on approved drawing no. 01A. Furthermore, the caravans shall only be sited in the area as shown on approved drawing no. 02.

To protect the amenities of the area as supported by Policies EN1, EN5 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

6)     The total number of agricultural workers accommodated within the caravans hereby permitted shall not exceed 6 persons per caravan, a total of 24 persons at any one time.

To safeguard the amenity of the area.

7)     The external elevations and roofs of the caravans shall be coloured dark green and thereafter retained as such.

To safeguard the visual appearance of the area as supported by Policies EN1, EN5 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.

8)     The caravans hereby permitted shall be used for the purpose of seasonal workers' accommodation in association with the agriculture of the adjoining agricultural unit, as defined by Section 336(i) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended (or any definition which replaces it) and for no other purpose including Class C3 (residential) of the Use Classes Order 1987, as amended.

Stationing of non-agricultural workers’ caravans would be contrary to Green Belt policy and rural protection policies as supported by Policy GB6 of the Sevenoaks Development Management Plan and policy LO8 of the Sevenoaks Core Strategy.

9)     Three months after the cessation of the use of the site for the stationing of caravans hereby permitted, the caravans and associated equipment and hardstanding shall be removed from the site. Three months prior to the cessation of the use of the site, a programme of restoration works will be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details within a month of the removal of the caravans.

To safeguard the amenity of the area.

10)  The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: 01A and 02

For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

11)  Other than in the event of emergency, there shall be no access into the site other than from the designated vehicular access and parking area at the eastern end of the site. There shall be no access into the site from the trackway adjacent to the south-eastern edge of the site (leading to Salmans Farm Cottages and beyond).

In the interests of highway safety and the residential amenities of neighbouring occupiers as supported by policy EN1 of the Sevenoaks Allocations and Development Management Plan.