Planning Application for the creation of a new holiday let and barn at Land at Grafton Lane, East of Glendale, Haywood, Wormside, Herefordshire.

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En-Plan in order to develop both a holiay let business and to create a small scale agricultural resource.  We are bringing to bear our experience in the development field to create a development that gives back to the environment as a whole.  The scheme upon completion will provide a sustainable tourism and agricultural business. We conducted a through planning appraisal which fed into the planning application process which is outlined below.

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Site Description

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The application relates to a site located to the southwest of Hereford to the west of Grafton. The site is set in a rural environment surrounded by agricultural land, accessed off the C1226 and C1227 and the railway lies to the south east. The access to the site was approved under application P201505/F and currently comprises a number of small buildings associated with the existing animal keeping on the site.  The property maintains walking and cycle links with Hereford therrough Public Rights of Way.

 

Proposal

 

Proposed erection of barn and stables, and a holiday lodge with service inlet building.       

 

This application soughgt permission for the construction of a barn and stables building for housing land maintenance equipment and chickens and goats. Additionally, the scheme includes proposed holiday accommodation with service inlet building. The application has been amended to reduce the proposed holiday lets from 2 to 1 at the request fo the Council.

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Planning Policy

 

Section 38 (6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 states as follows:

 

“If regard is to be had to the development plan for the purpose of any determination to be made under the Planning Acts the determination must be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.”

 

In this instance the adopted development plan is the Herefordshire Local Plan – Core Strategy (CS) and the ‘made’ Callow and Haywood Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) adopted 1 December 2016.  At this time the policies in the NDP can be afforded full weight as set out in paragraph 48 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019, which itself is a significant material consideration.

 

The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) (the 2012 Regulations) and paragraph 33 of the National Planning Policy Framework requires a review of local plans be undertaken at least every five years in order to determine whether the plan policies and spatial development strategy are in need of updating, and was  updated in November 2020.  The level of consistency of the policies in the local plan with the NPPF will be taken into account by the Council in deciding any applications. In this case, the policies relevant to the determination of this application have been reviewed and are considered to remain entirely consistent with the NPPF and as such can be afforded significant weight.

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Relevant Policies

 

Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy 2011 – 2031 

 

SS1 - P resumption in favour of sustainable development

SS4 - Movement and transportation

SS5 - Employment provision

SS6 - Environmental quality and local distinctiveness

RA3 - Herefordshire’s countryside

RA4 - Agricultural, forestry and rural enterprise dwellings

RA6 - Rural economy

MT1 - Traffic Management, highway safety and promoting active travel

E4 - Tourism

LD1 - Landscape and townscape

LD2 - Biodiversity and geodiversity

LD3 - Green Infrastructure

SD1 - Sustainable Design and energy efficiency

SD3 - Sustainable water management and water resources

SD4 - Waste water treatment and river water quality

 

Callow and Haywood Neighbourhood Development Plan:

 

A referendum for voters within the Callow and Haywood Neighbourhood Area was held on the 3 November 2016 and passed. The Callow and Haywood Neighbourhood Development Plan is therefore part of the statutory development plan.

 

Policy CH1 – Protecting and Enhancing the Rural Landscape

Policy CH2 – Building and Transport Design Principles

Policy CH5 – Managing New Business Development in Former Agricultural Buildings and other Land-Based Rural Business Buildings

Policy CH6 – Supporting Tourism and Local Business Development in Callow and Haywood

 

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – Relevant Chapters:

 

2. Achieving sustainable development

6. Building a strong, competitive economy

9. Promoting sustainable transport

12. Achieving well-designed places

15. Conserving and enhancing the natural environment

 

Principle of Development

 

With the proposal being for holiday accommodation, policies RA6 and E4 of the CS are most relevant in the first instance, along with Policy CH6 of the NDP. Chapter 6 of the NPPF is also relevant which touches on supporting a thriving and prosperous economy.

 

Policy CH6 contained within the Callow & Haywood Group Neighbourhood Development Plan seeks to support development that improves the quality and diversity of tourist accommodation with small scale enterprises being permissible where it:

 

1. Does not have a detrimental effect on the distinct character of the rural landscape and settlements and promotes tranquillity and the quiet enjoyment of the countryside;

2. Does not adversely affect the surrounding infrastructure, particularly local road networks and water supply and sewage;

3. Benefits the local community, through for instance, provision of local employment opportunities and improvements to local service provision, and is proportionate to the size of the settlement in which it is located; and

4. Where feasible the development involves the re-use of existing buildings or is part of farm and other land-based rural businesses diversification.

 

This policy of the NDP is reinforced through policies RA6 and E4 of the CS. Policy RA6 acknowledges that the rural economy will be diversified through a range of economic activities, including sustainable tourism proposals of an appropriate scale and in accordance with policy E4.

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This proposal presents a barn and stable building of a larger albeit reasonable scale, clearly designed for intended purposes. With regards to the principle of development, in the first instance it is noted that Policy RA6 supports employment generating proposals in rural areas, especially where it involves the small scale expansion of existing businesses. However, it makes clear that such proposals will only be supported where they ensure that the development is of a scale which would be commensurate with its location and setting and would not cause adverse impacts to the amenity of neighbours by way of its design or through noise, dust, smell or lighting. It also sets out that such proposals should not undermine water quality targets in line with the objectives of Policies SD3 and SD4. At the national level, Paragraph 84 of the NPPF makes it very clear that planning decisions should enable the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business in rural areas, either through the conversion of existing buildings or well-designed new buildings. The NPPF goes onto recognise that sites to meet local business needs will often be found outside of sustainable settlements. This should not preclude development, but particular care and attention needs to be given to ensure that the development is sensitive to its surroundings and does not have an adverse impact on the local highway network should be had in such instances. The new buildings are proposed to house the tools required for maintenance of the land and the animals on the site. The applicants currently keep chickens on the site and intend to breed rare goats as a small business on the site, as such the barn and stable are commensurate for the need and proposed use of the site.

 

Subject to an assessment of the proposal’s design, landscape impact, impact upon heritage assets, biodiversity and highways, I am of the view that there is policy support for the broad principle of this proposal.

 

Design, Landscape and Amenity

 

The landscape character of Herefordshire reflects a harmonious blend of natural beauty, agricultural traditions, and historic heritage. It is an area that attracts visitors and residents alike, seeking to enjoy the tranquility and scenic splendor of the rural countryside.

 

The Core Strategy seeks, via policy LD1, to ensure development proposals demonstrate how the character of the landscape and townscape has positively influenced the design, scale, nature and site selection of the proposal. Development should be integrated appropriately through the use of landscape schemes and their management. Furthermore LD1 seeks to maintain and extend tree cover where important to amenity. At local level, the NDP at policy CH1 seeks to protect the areas sense of tranquillity and preserve or enhance the character of the villages and rural settlements, as well as the protection of mature and established trees with the planting of local species encouraged.

 

With regards to residential amenity, the closest neighbouring dwelling lies approximately 200 metres to the west of the proposal site as such there is sufficient separation to alleviate concerns for residential amenity in terms of noise and nuisance. Furthermore, given the minor scale of the holiday accommodation proposed and the minor increase in animal maintenance on the site, it is not considered that there would be significant increase in movement and associated noise to and from the site.

 

Highways

 

The NPPF sets out at paragraph 110 that applications for development should ensure opportunities to promote sustainable transport have been taken, safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users and any significant impacts from the development on the transport network or highway safety can be mitigated. Policy MT1 of the Core Strategy is reflective of this approach, as it seeks to promote active travel and development that without adversely affecting the safe and effective flow of traffic on the highway network. Further at paragraph 111 the NPPF sets out that development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impact on the road network would be severe. These aims are echoed by policy CH2 of the NDP.

 

The proposal would utilise existing access previously approved under application 201505, however given the intensification of the site visibility splays and stepping back of the gates was requested. This detail was provided and reviewed by the Highways Officer who has raised no objection to the scheme subject to conditions to secure the technical details. The local highways network is considered to be able to accept the minor additional movements to and from the site and would not meet the serve threshold within the NPPF. The objection received focuses on the access to the site, it is recognised that access from Grafton Lane is limited to active travel, however vehicular access is achieved from Merryhill C road. The parking space proposed is considered acceptable and the provision of cycle parking on site is secured by condition and the Council accepted there were no highways and access issues.

 

Ecology and Drainage

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The application was accompanied by a full drianage strategy which was completed after a percolation test.

A percolation test, also known as a perc test or soil percolation test, is a method used to assess the drainage characteristics of soil. It is commonly conducted to determine the suitability of the soil for the installation of septic systems or soakaway systems. During a percolation test, a series of holes or test pits are dug in the ground at the proposed location of the septic system or soakaway. The holes are typically 300mm (12 inches) wide and 300mm to 600mm (12 to 24 inches) deep. The bottom and sides of the hole are usually compacted to prevent water from escaping laterally. The test involves measuring the rate at which water infiltrates or percolates into the soil from a standardized volume of water poured into the test hole.

 

It is important to note that the percolation test is just one aspect of assessing soil suitability for wastewater disposal systems. Other factors, such as soil texture, depth to groundwater, and site-specific conditions, should also be considered in the overall evaluation of the site's suitability for the intended purpose. Consulting with local authorities or professionals experienced in wastewater systems is recommended for accurate assessments and compliance with relevant regulations. En-Plan were able to assess all these factors and produce sdraiange startegy that will work.

 

Conclusion

 

The construction of build form in this location does bring about intrinsic visual harm, however this is largely offset by the appropriate design approach and landscaping scheme to soften the cabin with planting. It is also recognised that the site is considered an unsustainable location of the site, however the overarching support provided by RA6 and E4 is sufficient to outweigh the minor adverse effects identified with no technical objection raised. The barn and stable building is considered acceptable, replacing existing provision on the site and accommodating animals currently on the site. As such, the application is recommended for approval subject to planning conditions.

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Further Information

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If you would like to find out more about how our Planning Consultancy, Architectural Design Services, and Building Regulations know how can work in perfect sync to achieve a successful outcome in the planning system please contact us and we will be only too happy to talk through any questions or development proposals you may have.

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