Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

A Members’ Update was received providing outstanding comments from archaeology.

Following the Officer’s presentation, Mr Terry Inkpen, an Objector and Councillor Paul Burgess, on behalf of Althorne Parish Council, addressed the Committee.

Councillor A S Fluker, in the interest of openness and transparency, declared an interest in this application as he knew the applicants.

A debate ensued regarding the merits of this proposed development. It was noted that the application was associated with an existing agricultural use and, subject to conditions, would not be materially harmful to the locality, the adjoining properties or highway safety.  As such, the development is in line with the stipulations of policies S1, S8, D1, D2, E1, E4, N2, T1 and T2 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan (LDP) and the national policy and guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that the application be approved in accordance with the Officer’s recommendation. This was seconded and upon a vote being taken the application was approved.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1.                Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3 of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any Order amending, revoking or re-enacting that Order), premises shall only be used for purposes associated with the agriculture use of the agricultural unit, namely the application site and any other agricultural field under the same ownership, and for no other purpose.

2.                The use of the agricultural workshop as shown in the approved plans within the building hereby permitted shall only operate between 08:00 hours and 18:00 hours Mondays to Saturdays and at no time on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays.

3.                In association with the use of the agricultural workshop as marked in the approved plans, no machinery shall be operated or any process shall be carried out and no deliveries or collections undertaken at the site other than between 08:00 hours and 18:00 hours on weekdays and between 08:00 hours and 13:00 hours on Saturdays and not at any time on Sundays and Public Holidays.

4.                No machinery associated with the use of the agricultural workshop as marked in the approved plans shall be used outside the building hereby approved.

5.                No extraction or ventilation equipment, vents, air conditioning units or similar plant equipment shall be installed or fitted to any external part of the building except in accordance with a scheme to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The scheme as approved and installed shall be retained as such thereafter.

6.                No external illumination shall be installed or fitted to any part of the site except in accordance with a scheme to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.  The scheme as approved and installed shall be retained as such thereafter.

7.                No goods, materials, plant, machinery, skips, containers, packaging or other similar items associated with the agricultural use of the application site shall be stored or kept outside of the building hereby approved.

8.                Notwithstanding the provisions of Part 3 of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) the use of the building hereby approved shall only be for agricultural purposes.