N/164/02337/23: View the Plans and documents online, please click on the Application Number.  (Please note: If viewing as a pdf document, this hyperlink is not available).

Applicant:                          Christopher Heneage Farms

Location:                           Land off Donington Road, South Willingham

Recommendation:              Approval with Conditions

Officer:                              Lindsey Stuart

Application Type:         Remove or Vary a condition

Proposal:                     Section 73 application to vary condition no. 2 (approved plans), condition no. 3 (construction management plan), condition no. 4 (construction environmental management plan), condition no. 5 (tree protection), condition no. 6 (hard landscaping), condition no. 7 (landscaping & tree planting), condition no. 8 (archaeology), condition no. 12 (surface water drainage) and condition no. 17 (phasing) as imposed on planning permission reference N/164/00946/22 (for the change of use of land for recreational use as a cycle park, construction of associated cycle tracks/trails, erection of a building to be used as a visitor centre, provision of associated car parking and construction of a vehicular access).

Location:                      LAND OFF, DONINGTON ROAD, SOUTH WILLINGHAM

Applicant:                    Christopher Heneage Farms

Members received an application to Remove or Vary a condition – Section 73 application to vary condition no. 2 (approved plans), condition no. 3 (construction management plan), condition no. 4 (construction environmental management plan), condition no. 5 (tree protection), condition no. 6 (hard landscaping), condition no. 7 (landscaping & tree planting), condition no. 8 (archaeology), condition no. 12 (surface water drainage) and condition no. 17 (phasing) as imposed on planning permission reference N/164/00946/22 (for the change of use of land for recreational use as a cycle park, construction of associated cycle tracks/trails, erection of a building to be used as a visitor centre, provision of associated car parking and construction of a vehicular access) at land off Donington Road, South Willingham.

The proposal was presented to the Planning Committee for consideration due to the significant number of objections and the officer recommendation to approve.

The main planning issues were considered to be:

•        Type of Application.

•        Conditions to be varied.

Members were referred to the additional information contained on page 1 of the Supplementary Agenda.  

Lindsey Stuart, Senior Planning Officer, detailed site and surroundings information to Members at Paragraph 2, together with the description of the proposal at Paragraph 3, pages 13 to 16 of the report refer.

Mr Daniel Sharp (Agent) spoke in support of the application.

Ms Shirley Asquith, South Willingham Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

Councillor Richard Fry spoke as Ward Member.

Members were invited to put their questions to the speakers.

-      A Member queried the number of proposed car parking spaces, stating that 200 seemed excessive.  Mr Sharp confirmed that the car park proposal was for 50 spaces with an overflow car park.

-      A Member commented that the car park would be very noticeable and change the character of the landscape and queried what measures the applicant proposed to put in place to ensure this did not change.

Mr Sharp advised Members that the car park was on the north-east side of a tall hedge so the car park would not be visible from the South Willingham side.

Following which, the application was opened for debate. 

-      A Member queried why the original conditions were removed.

The Senior Planning Officer advised that the information submitted was effectively seeking to discharge the conditions rather than remove them and that the only condition that was removed was related to the submission of the written scheme of investigation for archaeology as agreed by Heritage Lincolnshire.

-      Following a query from a Member asking whether there were any assurances given to ensure the next phases were carried out, the Senior Planning Officer advised that they were unable to set a timescale, however highlighted that the landscaping would have to be agreed before they moved on to the various phases. 

-      A Member further queried whether the officer had any concerns with regards to the car park changing the character of the landscape.  The Senior Planning Officer advised that the roadside hedge was quite dense and confirmed that the cyclists would not be seen due to the landscaping.

-      In response to a Member’s query on whether the application in effect was just a re-phasing exercise, the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that it was as the conditions still stood.

-      A Member queried whether the applicant had been required to provide financial costings.  The Senior Planning Officer advised that the applicant had not provided any costings and confirmed that this was how they had now chosen to develop the site.

-      Following a query with regards to the types of events that would be allowed to take place on the site, the Senior Planning Officer advised Members that the original condition would still stand, page 32 of the report refers.  It was confirmed that the condition relating to amplified music not being allowed would still stand and that there was a limit of 12 special events to be held per year.

-      A Member queried whether there was an option to explore additional shielding on phases 1 and 2 of the project.

The Senior Planning Officer advised that the landscaping condition allowed for phases 1 and 2, and further landscaping would be agreed at the commencement of phases 3 and 4.

Following which, the application was proposed and seconded for approval in line with officer recommendation.

Upon being put to the vote for approval, the vote was carried.

Vote:          6 In favour           4 Against               1 Abstention 

RESOLVED:

That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

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