Decision Maker: Head of Place
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The storage of machinery constitutes a
material change of use. The area hatched blue on the plan is used
for the storage of machinery used in conjunction with an
agricultural contracting business, operating from the adjacent
land, therefore falling within a B8 use. The formation of
hardstanding constitutes operational development.
The existing agricultural contracting business operates on a 2.5
hectare site to the east and north-east of the site which is an
extensive site area with both indoor and outdoor storage facilities
and large areas of hardstanding, the latter not all of which
benefits from planning permission but is now immune from
enforcement action. The additional area hatched blue is not
considered to be required for the business, given its already
expansive site area and its B8 use. The further expansion of the
site is not considered to be justified economic development in the
countryside contrary to Policy ST07 and DM12 of the North Devon and
Torridge Local Plan.
Furthermore the extensive hardstanding and proliferation with
machinery is of a scale and appearance that it would detract from
the landscape qualities of the area as defined in the Landscape
Character Assessment contrary to the requirements of Policies ST14
and DM08A of the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan.
The development also has highway implications as the expansion into
this area facilitates intensification of the B8 activities taking
place on the site therefore generating additional movements onto an
A class road from a substandard junction. The absence of a right
turn lane into the site coupled with the increase in vehicle
movements from expanding the size of the site by a further 0.8ha
would interrupt the free-flow of traffic travelling at the national
speed limit along the A39 and therefore would be likely to result
in a serious collision. As such it is considered that the use which
has taken place would result in severe impacts to the safety of
road users therefore contrary to Policy DM05 of the North Devon and
Torridge Local Plan and paragraph 109 of the National Planning
Policy Framework.
To issue an Enforcement Notice under Section
171(1)(a) of the Town
It is considererd proportionate to issue an
enforcment notice to remedy the breach of planning control
Publication date: 24/11/2020
Date of decision: 28/08/2019