Agenda item
23/01184/FUL Coopers Croft Barn, Priory Road, Chipping Norton.
Minutes:
James Nelson, Senior Planning Officer, presented the application for a temporary siting of a mobile home for farm worker (retrospective) (amended plans).
David Burson, spoke on behalf of the applicant.
The Chair then invited the Sub-Committee to ask any questions of
clarification, which raised the following points:
- The agent confirmed that the mobile home would be static for the duration of 2 years. The mobile home was for the worker and their family only and included all services such as rest room and drainage. The applicant would like to establish a working farm and home on the site, the application was for a short term with a view to establishing a business.
The Senior Planning Officer continued with their presentation which clarified the following points:
- The application was for a dwelling in a rural area with a view to establishing a farm. Policies OS2 and H2 of the Local Plan and paragraph 84 of the National Planning Policy Framework, (NPPF) were relevant to the application given the isolated location of the site.
- The applicant was to demonstrate an essential operational need on the site to enable the family to live on site on a temporary basis. The applicant had submitted a business plan to support the application.
- Livestock enterprises were expected to expand over the coming years and the onsite accommodation would support the rearing of livestock.
- There would be a period of proving to enable the applicant to demonstrate the expansion of the business and for the Council to review the need for accommodation on the land.
- The Council had commissioned an independent assessment which had found that on balance there was a need for accommodation on the site. It was found that the intention was to rear livestock which could find an increase in livestock numbers reaching 90 per annum.
- Onsite accommodation would be needed to cover animal welfare issues, including any emergencies.
- The application demonstrated financial viability in line with polices OS2, H2 and Paragraph 84 of the NPPF. Officers found that there would be a sufficient profit margin based on the applicant’s financial projections, which would support a worker on a minimum wage. A proving period would provide a review over time where the figures would be evaluated based on the business in the coming years.
- Officers recommended the approval subject to conditions, in line with the officer’s report.
The Chair then invited the Sub-Committee to discuss the application which raised the following points:
- The application was called in by a Councillor Haine due to concerns over the accommodation needs on site.
- Clarification on condition 3 regarding dependants, including any widowed. The Officer confirmed that this was to protect the occupants if the situation was to arise where in event of a death, the occupants would not be made homeless, which was a standard condition. The Officer brought the Sub-Committee’s attention to the application being for a 2-year period only.
- The Sub-Committee asked if it would be more practical to retain the mobile home as a farm office after 2 years rather than remove it from the site. The Senior Planning Officer confirmed there has not been an application for the mobile home to remain on site, as no long-term case has been demonstrated.
- The Sub-committee asked if the period of 2 years would be long enough for the proving of the business. The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the applicant had proposed the 2-year period and already had a business set up.
Councillor Andrew Beaney proposed that the application be approved in line with the officer’s report with condition that the occupation is solely for the person working with the live-stock on the site. This was seconded by Councillor Jeff Haine, was put to the vote and was agreed unanimously by the Sub-Committee.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to:
- Approve the application with the condition that the occupation is solely for the person working with the live-stock on site.