Agenda item

Planning Application 17/01089/COU - Midelney Manor, Midelney Road, Drayton

Minutes:

Proposal: Application to permit use of gardens of the manor and the potting shed adjacent to gardens to hold events for up to 150 people.

The Planning Officer introduced the report and outlined the proposal. He said the Environmental Protection team had significant input into the application and although the site was at a remote location, he felt that because of the potential impact on the residential amenity of neighbouring houses, he proposed the application be refused.

Mr M French and Mr I Hall, nearby residents, spoke in support of the application. They said that 8 local residents supported the proposal and only 1 objected. The noise from passing tractors or helicopters outweighed the possible noise nuisance of the proposal.

Mrs A Acton, the applicant, said the manor house had been in her family ownership for 500 years and her parents had previously operated the grounds as a successful wedding venue some years earlier. She outlined the benefits of employment for local people and business for local caterers, florists and B&B establishments.

Ms H Lazenby, Agent for the applicant, said there would only be 10 events per year and she drew attention to the acoustic consultants report which confirmed that noise from events would be within the guidelines. She suggested a range of controls including the restriction of live entertainment, maximum of 150 guests, 10 events per year, speakers directed downwards and away from houses and a one way system in the car park.

The Ward Member, Councillor Tiffany Osborne, said it was unfortunate the there was one objection as the applicants had sought to mitigate noise concerns. She felt that the economic benefit and local employment were welcome and she proposed that the application be granted permission.

During a brief discussion, Members were supportive of the application and the Planning Officer clarified that the marquee would be removed after each event. It was proposed and seconded that the application be approved and this was unanimously agreed by all Members.

RESOLVED:

That planning application 17/01089/COU be APPROVED, subject to the following:

Justification:

01. The proposal represents an acceptable scheme for the diversification of use of a Grade 1 listed building, securing the generation of income for the maintenance of the heritage asset. No demonstrable harm to residential amenity or the character and appearance of the listed building or its setting would result, and the proposal accords with the aims and core principles of the NPPF (Paragraph 17) and Policies EQ2, EQ3 and EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006 – 2028).

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:

01. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason: To accord with the provisions of section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

02. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plan: The revised site layout plan (05/07/17) received by email on 5 July 2017.

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

03. No more than ten events hereby permitted shall take place in any calendar year.