Five-year farm extension at Willow Tree Family Farm, Shirebrook, Mansfield

What was proposed

The application sought to extend permission for the marquees and the former playing pitch’s use for animals and occasional parking until 31 December 2030.

“The application is to vary Condition 1 of application 22/00333/FUL (to extend the temporary permission until 31st of December 2030.) Application 22/00333/FUL was for the erection of 2 marquees and toilets re-surfacing of existing access lane in association with mixed use of the site and an extension of the family farm for the keeping of animals.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The family farm contains buildings, animal enclosures and two marquees, with former playing pitches to the south and homes, sports facilities and a railway nearby.

“SITE & SURROUNDINGS Existing family farm which contains a number of single storey buildings and animal enclosures. The site sits behind the former education centre buildings which are listed buildings and access to the site is via a one way system through the education centre on to Langwith Road.”

“The site also contains two marquees which are joined together and are used in connection with the farm but are also used for shows, music events, weddings etc.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

The farm was approved in 2001, related buildings in 2002, and an appeal later granted a two-year temporary consent for the marquees and animal keeping.

“The site was approved for use as a town farm in 2001 and various buildings in connection with the use of the site were approved in 2002.”

“More recently two marquees were erected on the site which have been used for various events. The keeping of animals has been extended onto the adjacent playing pitches which were outside the site approved for the original town farm.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because a further temporary period would allow the playing-pitch assessment to inform future use, provided permanent structures were prohibited.

“The application is being recommended for approval. It is considered that the proposal complies with policies SS9: Development in the Countryside, WC 10 Tourism and the Visitor Economy, ITCR 6 Green Space and ITCR7: Playing Pitches, provided that no permanent structures are erected on the protected playing pitch land.”

“Derbyshire County Council have renewed the applicant’s lease for a further five years and the additional time period will allow the use to continue whilst the results of a Playing Pitch Assessment commissioned by the council are being produced. That assessment will provide an up-to-date picture about which sports teams use which sites, and the status of reserve sites within the district.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Sport England objected because playing-field provision was deficient, while several consultees raised no objections or comments and the council received no neighbour representations.

“Bolsover District Council Environmental Health No objections as there have been no complaints received during the operation of the previous temporary consent…”

“Sport England Issued statutory objection to the application. Considers the proposal would lead to the loss of playing field for a further five years in an area where there is a deficiency in the provision of playing fields. There is no evidence presented with the application to provide a clear rationale why a second temporary permission should be granted.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Development Management and Land Charges Manager presented the application, and the Leisure Facilities Planning and Development Manager answered questions about sports-field demand.

Committee discussion

Members discussed advertising, whether the proposal was a departure, the expected completion date of the Playing Field Strategy and the lease length.

“10 The Development Management and Land Charges Manager clarified that the application had been advertised in the press, but not explicitly as a departure and that it was a matter of judgement as to whether the proposal constituted a departure from the local plan.”

“It was requested that it be noted that the Playing Field Strategy commissioned by the Council was due to be completed September 2026.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee resolved to refer the application to the Secretary of State with a recommendation for approval subject to three conditions and stated reasons.

“Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro RESOLVED that application no. 25/00491/VAR be referred to the Secretary of State via the National Planning Casework Unit with a recommendation that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”

“The use of the former playing pitch as an extension to the town farm and the use of the marquees for functions which do not directly form part of the use of the site as a town farm must be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition on or before 18 th February 2031 in accordance with a scheme of work submitted at least two months before the expiry of the permission and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.”

Minutes