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The Committee received an application for
Outline Planning Permission.
The application
sought approval for the erection of a cycle-themed café (A3 use) and shop along
with associated infrastructure including car and cycle parking and new internal
roads.
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The Committee received a representation in support of the application
from Jim Chisholm.
The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:
i.
Area was currently a neglected and underused space.
ii.
The Chisholm Trail development would significantly
change the character of the space and bring increased activity levels to
it. This includes the way in which
fishing club members will access the lake.
iii.
Whilst not necessarily against a Café on the site,
the scale of the application was excessive. Green belt land needed to be
protected in accordance with national policy.
iv.
Lake side café facilities are not unusual within
public green spaces.
v.
The proposal as it stands would have limited visual
impact.
vi.
Expressed concern regarding the A3 proposal which would allow a wide
range of uses within the same use class without the need for further planning
permission.
vii.
Some of the outstanding issues could be addressed
by a future reserved matters application.
viii.
The Committee acknowledged the case officer’s
advice that the present unmanaged condition of the land and presence of fly
tipping did not amount to very special circumstances.
The Legal representative outlined the framework of exceptions allowed to
the National
Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) restriction regarding development within the
Green Belt. This includes (para 89) provision of appropriate facilities for
outdoor recreation.
The New Neighbourhoods Development Manager reminded members that,
approval of this application would require consultation with the Secretary of
State due to the green belt and flood risk issues according to the Consultation
Direction 2009.
On a show of hands, 4 members indicated that they rejected the Officer’s
recommendation to refuse the application.
The Chair proposed instigating the Adjourned Decision Protocol and asked
members to give their reasons for overturning the Officer’s recommendation. The
following reasons were proposed:
i.
Increased recreational use of green belt land
ii.
Overall net benefit to the community.
The legal advisor suggested that more robust reasons regarding the
appropriateness of the development as exceptional development within the Green
Belt would be needed.
Councillor
Nethsingha moved a motion deferring the decision on the grounds of insufficient
information.
On a show of hands,
the motion was lost.
The Chair stated
that considerable adjustments were needed to make the application acceptable.
The New Neighbourhoods
Development Manager indicated that Members might wish to send a strong message
to the applicant to supplement the information provided in respect of
unresolved issues in the application.
The Committee:
Unanimously resolved to adjourn the application to return to a subsequent
Committee in accordance with the adjourned decision protocol.