Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Development Committee held on 20 January 2023 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

Schedule - Page 9

Item 1 - Nunthorpe Hall Farm - Page 11

Item 2 - Site of former Southlands Centre - Page 49

The Head of Planning submitted plans deposited as applications to develop land under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

22/0693/MAJ Conversion of the existing traditional farm house and buildings to form 7 dwellings, the demolition of agricultural buildings and the construction of 5 newbuild dwellings, along with associated works at Nunthorpe Hall Farm, Hall Farm, Old Stokesley Road, Middlesbrough, TS7 0NP

The above application had been identified as requiring a site visit by members of the Planning and Development Committee. Accordingly, a site visit had been held prior to the meeting.

Full details of the planning application and the plan status were outlined in the report. The report contained a detailed analysis of the application and analysed relevant policies from the National Planning Policy Framework and the Local Development Framework.

The Head of Planning explained that the application related to Nunthorpe Hall Farm, which consisted of a former farmhouse and several associated agricultural outbuildings located in Nunthorpe Village. It was advised that the proposal was seeking planning consent for the conversion of the existing farm buildings (former stable courtyard buildings and two grain store buildings) into seven dwellings, the demolition of two agricultural storage buildings, the erection of five detached dwellings with associated garages, works to a listed walled garden to form a group of private gardens and other ancillary works.

Following consultation there had been 3 objections, a letter of concern received from nearby residents and comments submitted by Councillor Mieka Smiles. It was explained that the objections and concerns referenced the scale, proportion and design of the new builds; the impact on the character of the area and setting of listed buildings; loss of privacy; parking issues; traffic and noise increases; privacy issues from Nunthorpe Hall access rights; impacts on nature/wildlife/biodiversity, Public Rights of Way (PROW) access issues and broadband access.

The committee was advised that the site was outside the limits of development, as it was located within the Nunthorpe and Poole Conservation Area.

Members heard that the farm buildings were locally listed and were considered to be an important part of the village’s character. The buildings were also considered to make a notable contribution to the significance of the conservation area. The wall that had been constructed to provide a walled garden was also a listed structure, being formerly associated with Nunthorpe Hall. It was commented that there were several other listed buildings within the immediate vicinity, including Nunthorpe Hall.

The committee was advised that the existing farm buildings had been vacant for a considerable period and, in order to maintain their contribution to the character of the village, their retention and re-use was considered to be of significant importance.

In 2013, the Local Authority had commissioned the North of England Civic Trust to undertake a study to examine the long-term use and retention of the heritage assets associated with the farm complex. Members heard that the study had identified that the brick-built buildings on the site would lend themselves to be converted into residential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22/28

The Head of Planning submitted details of planning applications which had been approved to date in accordance with the delegated authority granted to him at Minute 187 (29 September 1992).

A Member queried the reasons for one particular application being a delegated decision. In response, the Head of Planning explained that most planning applications, in accordance with the scheme of delegation, could be assessed against the Council’s planning policies and decided by a planning officer without needing to be considered by the Planning and Development Committee. However, if there was a certain amount of interest in the plans, the decision would be made by the Planning and Development Committee, for example - when three or more objections had been received, or a councillor had requested the application be decided by the committee, for sound planning reasons.

NOTED

Planning Appeals

Appeal Ref: APP/W0734/W/22/3307708 16 Queens Road, Middlesbrough TS5 6EE - Allowed

The development proposed was change of use from 3 flats to 5 bed HMO.

The main issues were the effects of the proposed development on highway safety and on the character and appearance of the area.

It was explained that the Planning Inspectorate had acknowledged the Council’s concern that planning permission had not previously been granted for 3 flats at the appeal site, but the use had become lawful over time. Subsequently, the use of the site was as 3 flats and it was within that context that the appeal had been determined and allowed.

Appeal Ref: APP/W0734/W/22/3297347 Land at Hemlington Lane, Middlesbrough TS8 9DW - Dismissed

The development proposed was described as erection of 18no bungalows with associated access and landscaping works.

The main issues were the effect of the development on:

• trees, biodiversity and ecology;
• the living conditions of the existing residents on Hemlington Lane, with respect to traffic noise and disturbance; and
• Teesmouth Special Protection Area (SPA) as a habitat site.

It was explained that primarily the appeal had been dismissed due to nutrient neutrality, as the Applicant had offered up no mitigation to offset the impacts on the SPA.

NOTED

Weekly Planning Lists

A Member highlighted the importance of elected members receiving email notification of the weekly planning lists. In response, the Head of Planning advised that at the present time, due to demands and increasing workloads, the department was unable to action the request. It was commented that Members were able to access the weekly lists via the planning portal.

It was currently taking six to eight weeks for planning applications to be validated and assigned to planning officers. In response to Members concerns, the Head of Planning advised that there were plans to update the system to ensure that applications were only viewable by the public once an officer had been allocated the case.

It was advised that the Government had announced a consultation on proposals to raise fees in line with inflation and increase planning fees by 35% for major applications and 25% for all other applications. Proposals also recommended the monitoring of more performance measures and reducing the Planning Guarantee period from 26 weeks to 16 weeks for non-major applications.

NOTED