Address:       Land to south-west of Higham Cottages, Higham Road, Higham Gobion (nearest post code SG5 3HN)

Proposed grain store including new access and means of enclosure.

Applicant:     Chamberlain Holdings PLC

The Committee had before it a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/17/05250/FULL for a proposed grain store including new access and means of enclosure on land to the south west of Higham Cottages, Higham Road, Higham Gobion.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee’s attention was drawn to additional/publicity responses, additional comments and additional/amended conditions in the form of additional informatives as set out in the Late Sheet.  In addition the planning officer advised the meeting of an additional recommended condition to ensure that the proposed building and premises were used only for the purposes of agricultural storage.   There was also an error in recommended condition 6.  The distance given of ‘215.0mm’ should be amended to read ‘215m’.  Following a query by the Chairman the planning officer explained that the new condition had been introduced because of an existing industrial site nearby.  He also confirmed that the new building was to remain in agricultural use in perpetuity unless an application was made otherwise.

In advance of consideration of the application the Committee received a representation from the applicant’s agent under the public participation scheme.

A Member sought clarification from the applicant’s agent regarding the loss of the existing grain store and the reason for the location of the proposed grain store.  In response the agent stated that the existing store had already been lost and the tenant farmer only had a small amount of temporary storage. However, the tenant currently had to transport crops off site to a remote storage facility which was not financially viable.  The proposed grain store would be located centrally between the two land holdings.

The Member then sought clarification regarding the agent’s mention of restrictions around the location of the proposed store to the existing cluster of buildings at Manor Farm when, she felt, it would cause less landscape harm if it was placed close to existing farm buildings and why this was not an option.  The agent responded that the Manor Farm business park was entirely tenanted by a veterinary practice so putting a building on the site or using its access was not possible legally because of the tenancy that existed.  A building could be put on the opposite side of the road where there was a junction but there were no access points on to the land so a new one would need to be provided.  However, it was a more elevated position so it was felt that putting the proposed grain store lower down in the dip of the landscape was preferable than at the top of a hill where it would be more prominent.

At the request of the Member the agent defined the tenanted area to the north of Higham Road.

Another Member sought clarification as to the location of Manor Farm and Bury Farm in relation to the proposed grain store site and the former storage site at Chalton Cross and the distance involved in miles.  In response the agent stated that the former arrangement, by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139