Agenda item

To consider the planning application and recommendations of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

Following the Officer’s presentation of the report, Dr C Collins, an Objector, of Gilder Lodge, Fambridge Road, Althorne, Essex CM3 6BZ, Mr P Burgess, of Althorne Parish Council and Mr R Lonergan, the Applicant, all addressed the Committee.

Members debated this application and were of the opinion that it should, on balance, be approved.  The application site formed part of a much wider area that had come in to wine production and the Council was supporting a policy of trying to expand the wine growing areas in and around the District.  Residents had raised concern regarding highways issues.  However, as the Highways Agency had raised no objection, Members should accept their opinion.

The Committee received the reports of the Chief Executive and determined the following planning applications, having taken into account all representations and consultation replies received, including those listed on the Members’ Update circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED that this application be APPROVED, 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.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in complete accordance with the approved plans listed above.

3.         Notwithstanding the provisions of Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015, the building hereby shall be used as a wine tasting centre and for no other purposes falling within Use Class A4 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987.

4.         Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, details of the external materials to be used in the construction of the building shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Subsequently, the development shall only be undertaken in accordance with the approved materials.

5.         No amplified sounds shall be played at the site or within the building hereby approved that is audible from any location outside the application site.

6.         No plant shall be installed at the site (including air conditioning units, mechanical ventilation / extraction, flues, vents or refrigeration equipment) unless details of the proposals including the siting and appearance of the plant and details of the noise generated by that plant has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. 

7.         The premises hereby approved shall only be open to members of the public between 1000 hours and 1800 hours on any day.

8.         Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved by visiting members of the public, a plan shall be submitted demonstrating the ability to provide 16 parking spaces within the application site.  The submitted plans shall include details for the demarcation of the proposed parking spaces which shall be provided prior to the first use of the building hereby approved and retained in perpetuity solely for use in conjunction with the use of the building hereby approved and the six holiday let units referred to as Althorne Hall Cottages on the plans hereby approved.

9.         Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, details of the existing and proposed ground levels at the application site (as relevant to the development hereby approved) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Subsequently, the development shall only be undertaken in accordance with the approved ground level details.

10.       No works or development shall take place until full details of both hard and soft landscape works to be carried out have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  These details shall include the layout of the hard landscaped areas with the materials and finishes to be used and details of the soft landscape works including schedules of shrubs and trees to be planted, noting the species, stock size, proposed numbers/densities and details of the planting scheme's implementation, aftercare and maintenance programme.  The hard landscape works shall be carried out as approved prior to the beneficial occupation of the development hereby approved unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The soft landscape works shall be carried out as approved within the first available planting season (October to March inclusive) following the commencement of the development, unless otherwise first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  If within a period of five years from the date of the planting of any tree or plant, or any tree or plant planted in its replacement, is removed, uprooted, destroyed, dies, or becomes, in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, seriously damaged or defective, another tree or plant of the same species and size as that originally planted shall be planted in the same place, unless the Local Planning Authority gives its written consent to any variation.

11.       Prior to the commencement of the development a surface water drainage scheme to serve the development shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The agreed scheme shall be implemented prior to the first occupation of the development.

The applicant shall demonstrate that the surface water scheme will ensure that as a minimum:

·                     Run-off from the site is limited to calculated greenfield rates for the site or 2 litres per second per hectare for a storm event that has a 100% chance of occurring each year (1 in 1 year event)

·                     The development should be able to attenuate (manage water on site) for 1 in 100 year events plus 40% climate change allowance

·                     If the land is designated as a Brownfield Site it should aim to limit run-off for a storm event that has a 100% chance of occurring each year (1 in 1 year event) OR demonstrate 50% betterment of the current rates

12.       Prior to the commencement of the development details of the foul drainage scheme to serve the development shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The agreed scheme shall be implemented prior to the first occupation of the development.

13.       Before the development hereby permitted commences, details of all external illumination of the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  All illumination within the site shall be retained in accordance with the approved details.  There shall be no other lighting of the external areas of the site unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

14.       Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved details of the provision of refuse storage facilities to serve the development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  Subsequently the approved refuse storage shall be provided prior to the first beneficial use of the building hereby approved and retained at all times thereafter.