Agenda item

The application was brought to Planning Committee for consideration at the request of Councillor K. Taylor, Ward Councillor.

Officers presented their report and in doing so drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides, also detailed on pages 16 to 22 of the main agenda pack. Members were informed that the presentation slides also included some recent photographs taken two weeks previously. The site had changed considerably during recent works and post works.

The application was retrospective and was for the importation of material to re-profile and level land at Sumach, Priory Road, Dodford, Bromsgrove, B61 9DA.

The site lay to the northern side of Priory Road within the Dodford Conservation Area. The site was situated within the Green Belt.

Officers referred to the relevant planning history, as detailed on pages 9 and 10 of the main agenda pack.

Members’ attention was drawn to page 10 of the main agenda pack, which detailed ‘Background’ information.

The application site was located within the Green Belt. Paragraph 142 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) highlighted that the Government attached great importance to Green Belts, and this was further emphasised within Paragraph 153, which stated that local planning authorities should ensure that substantial weight was given to any harm to the Green Belt.

Policy BDP4.4 of the Bromsgrove District Plan and Paragraphs 154 and 155 of the NPPF set out exceptions to inappropriate development.

The works which had taken place were considered to constitute engineering operations. It was considered that whilst land levels had been raised in the rear garden area serving the property Sumach, the engineering operations did not in themselves result in harm to the openness of the Green Belt.

The five purposes of the Green Belt, as set out at paragraph 143 of the NPPF, were detailed on page 11 of the main agenda pack.

Officers highlighted that this retrospective application would not conflict with any of the five purposes of the Green Belt.

Worcestershire Archive and Archaeological Service had raised no concerns, with their comments being included on pages 8 and 12 of the main agenda pack.

Members’ attention was further drawn to the comments received from North Worcestershire Water Management (NWWM), in respect of drainage and contamination matters. They had referred the Parish Council and Ward Member for the area to the Environment Agency since any issues related to contamination of the watercourse was a matter for the Environment Agency to investigate. The Environment Agency were consulted with on the application and having visited the site, had commented that materials imported into the site were not contaminated, as detailed on page 12 of the main agenda pack.

As highlighted in the Officers conclusion, in the report, the largely completed works were not considered to result in harm to the openness of the Green Belt or harm to the character of the Conservation Area. The resultant works were not considered harmful in terms of heritage matters, residential amenity or drainage. The seeding of the site had served to soften the appearance of the imported material and the tree cover would further naturalise the site. The planning condition, as detailed on page 13 of the main agenda pack, had been included to ensure that the landscaping works were completed to the Council’s satisfaction.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor R. Jennings addressed the Committee on behalf of Dodford with Grafton Parish Council.

Members then considered the application, which Officers had recommended that planning permission be granted.

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted, subject to the Condition as detailed on page 13 of the main agenda pack.