LYDFORD PARISH COUNCIL is invited by the relevant Planning Authority (usually the Dartmoor National Park Authority) to give our comments on Planning Applications within the Lydford Parish.
For full details of these and other Planning Applications, please visit the DNPA website.
ON THIS PAGE ARE THE PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND THE COMMENTS WE HAVE MADE ON APPLICATIONS SINCE JANUARY 2009.
DETAILS OF APPLICATIONS PRIOR TO THIS DATE CAN BE FOUND IN THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS
JUNE 2009
Planning Applications
Heather (0232/09),
Barn Hayes (0220/09)
School (0229/09).
A tree application at the Castle Inn was dealt with under delegated powers.
Planning Applications
75.1 Decisions Received: Consent (some conditional) had been received for:
i) Approval had been received for the flue at Lot Cottage
ii) No tree preservation order had been placed on trees adjacent to the Castle Inn
75.2 Response made under delegated powers:
i) An application to demolish a bungalow and build a new one at Heather (0232/09). The existing bungalow is of non-standard construction and has asbestos roof tiles. It would be virtually impossible to bring it up to the standard required by modern building regulations. The proposed new bungalow would be better sited within the plot. It was unanimously decided that: The Council supports this application.
ii) An application for alterations and extension to the rear at Barn Hayes (0220/09). The proposed works would have minimal visual impact in the village. It was unanimously decided that: The Council supports this application.
iii) An application for the replacement of existing timber play equipment with new at Lydford Primary School. It was unanimously decided that: The Council supports this application.
MAY 2009
Decisions Received: Consent (some conditional) had been received for the minor
amendments at Widgerey’s.
Application for Minor Amendment at Lot Cottage (former builder’s office):
An application to have a wood burner flue coming out through the roof was considered as
non-contentious, and it was unanimously resolved that the Council will raise no objections.
APRIL 2009
Planning Applications
Decisions Received: Consent (some conditional) had been received for:
i) Change of use for ancillary accommodation at Hartswood (0046/09)
ii) Replacement of Roof Covering (listed building) at Town Farm (0064/09)
iii) New Storage Compound and change of use to holiday let at Lydford Gorge (0044/09)
iv) Conversion of 24 grassed pitches to gravelled hardstandings at Lydford Campsite (0039/09)
v) Tree Works at Lot Cottage
Response made under delegated powers:
i) An application for a pitched roof to replace a flat roof on an existing extension at West View (0123/09) had been received and the Clerk had responded with no objections under delegated powers after consulting members, as the two-week consultation period elapsed ahead of the meeting, and the application was too trivial to necessitate a request for a time extension.
Application for Minor Amendments at Widgery’s The amendments were not significant enough to warrant any objections.
New Applications
i) Application at West View, Vale Down: delegated powers response likely (DNPA 0123/09)
MARCH 2009
New Applications
i).Application for listed building consent for Replacement of Roof covering of lean-to rear porch
and carport at Town Farm, Lydford
ii). Further amendment at the former builder’s office
FEBRUARY 2009
1. Submission made under Delegated Powers
Application for a further amendment to existing permission at the Builder’s Office (0973/07): The following submission was made under delegated powers:
The Council OBJECTS to any amendment being made to the plans as originally passed, especially where a specific condition will be changed or breached (in this case condition 5).
The original fenestration as passed formed an important part of the design, and the council also objects on design grounds to the proposed amendment.
The Council has grave concerns that building work is already taking place on this development which is not in accordance with the plans as passed, and has especial concerns that the ridge line may be raised from what was passed in the original plans.
As has been previously stated Lydford Parish Council would not like to see a precedent set whereby it was considered acceptable to flout the planning consent that was awarded, especially in the Conservation area of the village.
The Council would not like to see the proposed amendment "rubber stamped" without detailed consideration of what has been passed, what is proposed, and what is actually happening on site at this development.
Although not listed this is a historic building which has a prominent place in the village, and the Council considers that it is desirable that, although small in size, the development is carried out to the highest standard of both design and materials. The original plans as passed satisfied these requirements, and the council would like to see the development carried out exactly as originally designed.
Applications for decision by the Council:
Conversion of grassed area to gravelled hardstanding at Lydford Campsite (0039/09)
Councillors raised a number of queries regarding this application, and the following submission will be sent to the DNPA:
1. Members understood that on a previous application the field in question was restricted to tent camping only – could the DNPA please check on this.
2. The form refers to planning consent for 120 pitches. Councillors understood that the planning consent was for 90 pitches, and that the Caravan and Camping Club had a licence to extend this to 120 because of being the C&CC. Now that the site has reverted to being run privately by the owner the Council anticipated that the license went with the C&CC and that there would only be 90 pitches.
3. The application refers to connection to the main sewers, which is correct as regards the ablution facilities at the site. There is, however, the matter of chemical toilet emptying, and in particular the emptying of holding tanks on motor homes. The Campsite’s website specifically advertises it as a point for these vehicles to empty their on board sewage holding tanks, and the Council has concerns that chemical toilet waste may be discharged into the village sewerage system. It also believes that this should come under the heading of trade effluent, and may require a license.
4. The application refers to a sustainable drainage system, but there are no details of this given, and it does not appear on the plans. The Council would like details of the point of discharge, for which it understands that Environment Agency consent is required. The council would also like to point out that there are flooding issues on the section of road from the War memorial to Bolts House, which runs adjacent to the site.
The Council concludes that at present insufficient information (especially regarding the drainage system and the emptying of chemical toilet waste) has been given for it to make a decision on this application.
Application by the National Trust for new storage compound and change of use to holiday let and office at the Bridge House end of Lydford Gorge (0044/09)
The holiday let is presently already a staff apartment, and so it was felt that this was a relatively non-contentious application. The new wood boiler is environmentally friendly, and the Bat and Barn Owl survey had been professionally carried out by independent experts. The Council’s response is as follows:
The council SUPPORTS the sustainable energy system afforded by the proposed new boiler.
It SUPPORTS the plans for the stable block.
It notes that the vertical slats on the proposed boiler house are not in accordance with the DNPA advised design, and hopes that the DNPA will be consistent in its policy on design and use of materials.
Application to fell a tree at Lot Cottage (former builder’s office)
The Clerk had consulted the neighbours, who had no objection, and so the council will respond that there is NO OBJECTION to the proposal to fell this tree.
It was noted that there have been complaints by parishioners that the building work on this site was not in accordance with the plans as passed, and that the Council had passed these concerns on to the DNPA. It was believed that an enforcement officer had now visited the site.
Application for change of use and conversion of outbuilding to provide ancillary domestic accommodation at Hartswood (0046/09)
The Council had a number of concerns regarding this application. The following response was formulated:
1. The Parish Council believes that the application is misleading in describing it as a change of use from workshop to domestic use: the existing building is a barn and still has pig feeders in it.
2. The Bat and Barn Owl Survey: This appeared to have been “glossed over” and did not appear to have been carried out by an independent wildlife expert. There is local anecdotal evidence of both bats and Barn Owls using the building up until the departure of the previous owner. The Council calls for an independent survey to be carried out by an independent and qualified wildlife expert.
3. The Parish Council queries the orange outline, which is not on the registered title of Hartswood.
4. The Council believes that the track marked “private shared track” is a public right of way.
5. A great deal of the application seems to refer to the personal circumstances and future intentions of the applicant – the council believes that these are not material planning considerations and should not therefore be part of the application
FEBRUARY 2009
New Applications
i) 0044/09 National Trust, application for storage and holiday let at Bridge House
ii) 0039/09 Campsite application for more hardstanding
iii) 0046/09 Application for Change of use and Conversion of outbuilding at Hartswood
iv) Tree felling application at Lot Cottage (former Builders Office)
JANUARY 2009
Decisions Received
1. Application for replacement porch, side extension and garden room and alterations to bay windows at Hartswood (0761/08): This had been withdrawn following a decision that it came under Permitted Development Rights. Accordingly no response from the Council was required.
Submissions made under Delegated Powers
1. Application for amendment to existing permission at the Builder’s Office (0973/07): The Clerk had checked against the original drawings and had found that the amendments to fenestration at the rear of the building would completely negate Condition 5 of the original permission. In the light of this the following submission was made under delegated powers:
When the original application 0973/07 was submitted, after application 0667/07 had been refused permission, strong consideration was given to the preservation of the amenity of the neighbouring properties.
The Council has grave concerns over the proposed amendments to the fenestration on the Northwest elevation, which was specifically referred to in condition 5 of the planning consent.
The council therefore OBJECTS to the proposed amendments.