Issue - meetings

Erection of a self-build dwelling plus associated hard and soft landscaping (Amended Details) at Fall Hill Quarry, Ashover.

(Planning Manager – Development Management)

The Committee considered an application that had been submitted for the erection of a self-build dwelling plus associated hard and soft landscaping at Fall Hill Quarry, Ashover.  The application had been referred to Committee by Councillor H Wetherall who had raised concerns about the proposal being located outside the settlement development limit and that guest accommodation would be used as regular holiday accommodation.

The recommendation by officers was to grant permission, subject to conditions and a legal agreement. The report to Committee explained the reasons for this.

Officers accepted that the proposal was contrary to the Local Plan and Ashover Neighbourhood Plan, in that it was an isolated dwelling in the countryside. However, officers, along with an independent design review, contended that the overall design of the scheme represented exceptional design. Therefore, it had the support of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Further to this, the report suggested that the proposal would be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the former quarry setting and the local area.

The report informed Members that the proposal lay within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In this context, it was suggested that the design of the scheme would increase the quantity and quality of biodiversity and geodiversity on site. As such officers attributed weight in favour of the scheme as they considered it would protect the natural environment, including the SSSI.

Officers had concluded that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) supported exceptional design such as this. They recommended, therefore, that the application be approved subject to conditions and legal agreement.

Before the Committee considered the application it heard from Local Ward Member, Councillor H Wetherall. It also heard from the applicant, P Kennedy, and the agent, M Gordon

Committee considered the application. It took into account the history of the site and how safe the land was currently. It considered the relevant Local and National Planning Policies. These included (and were not limited to) Local Plan policy SS9 concerning development in the countryside, Local Plan policy SDC4 concerning biodiversity and geodiversity, relevant policies within the Ashover Neighbourhood Plan and NPPF Paragraph 84 concerning the mitigating circumstances for isolated development.

Members discussed the application. Some Members had reservations over the visitors that the site would get. However, it was felt that reassurances from the applicant and conditions were suitable to address this. Committee debated the extent to which the proposal would enhance its immediate setting. Some members reflected that the site was currently rundown and trespassed upon and, therefore, supported the proposals aims to develop the site. Additionally, the biodiversity and geodiversity gains were regarded as enhancing to the setting of the site. In this context, there was support for the application as a means of protecting the future of the SSSI.

At the conclusion of the discussion Councillor D Hancock and Councillor P Elliot moved and seconded a Motion to approve the application. The motion was put to a vote and agreed.

RESOLVED -

That the application be approved, in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30