To receive a report from Colin Blundel of The Planning Company on planning matters affecting the AONB.
Minutes:
Colin Blundell explained that the Herefordshire Local Plan consultation had been published in May 2014. The AONB submitted a joint response with Wye Valley AONB Unit. Although the AONB Units were pleased that the protection and enhancement of AONBs was included in the list of key issues they would have preferred a separate AONB policy. They agreed with the general approach of allowing limited development in villages provided building design guidance was used.
The latest consultation relating to the South Worcestershire Development Plan and the Forest of Dean Local Development Framework did not require a response from the AONB Unit.
Work was ongoing for Neighbourhood Development Plans for Colwall, Ledbury and Cradley Parish Councils.
The five year land supply issue continued to encourage speculative applications as detailed below:
· The application for 43 houses to the south of Hanley Road had yet to be determined. The decision could depend on whether the Council considered it to be a major application under the National Planning Policy Framework. The AONB had argued that the site was in a prominent location, the development unsustainable and therefore contrary to policy,
· 95 houses at Upper Welland were likely to be considered a major development and the Unit had prepared a response that the application was unsustainable,
· A single house at Upper Welland was refused due to concerns about the scale and design and being in a Conservation Area,
· A response was being drafted to an application for 150 houses at Hayslan Fields which would be considered a major development and would result in a loss of greenspace,
· The application for 4 broiler units at Chances Pitch had been the subject of the public participation. The sheds would be dark green, non-reflective material. The Unit felt the first Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment was insufficient and there had not yet been time to consider the updated version. They had until 18 December to provide a response,
· The AONB Unit was concerned about the cumulative impact of a number of applications around Welland,
· Further evidence was awaited from the developer regarding a wind turbine at Acton Green, to determine the likely impacts on the views from the Hills,
· A solar farm was proposed at Defford but it was unlikely to be very visible from the Hills,
Training had been held for planning and landscape officers at Herefordshire Council as had previously occurred with Malvern Hills District Council. A second liaison meeting had been held with Malvern Hills District Council planning officers to discuss current applications and it was hoped these meetings would take place around every 6 months.
Various points were made in the ensuing discussion:
· Clare Greener made a general comment relating to applications for broiler units. The demand for poultry had increased and people were keen that supplies came from the UK. Farms were businesses which needed to develop if they wanted to survive and as farms may not be able to gain more land many had to intensify. She also clarified that modern chicken broilers were not overcrowded or smelly. Hereford had one of the biggest processing plants in the country which helped to provide jobs and a sustainable community.
· The point was made that the SWDP would not provide a solution to the issue of speculative applications if a 5 year land supply could not be demonstrated.
· It was suggested that new, interesting designs could be a positive thing in the AONB landscape. In response it was explained that national policy did allow for cutting edge designs and that the AONB Unit is not always opposed to them. However, designs also have to be balanced against the site's position and impact on the surrounding area.
RESOLVED that the Committee:
a) Noted the progress in relation to strategic planning in Herefordshire, Forest of Dean and South Worcestershire, and
b) Noted the recent planning applications relating to the AONB.