Allotment containers and tipi at Roots Allotments Shirehall Pastures, Hawley

“(7) Planning permission is sought for the permanent siting of 3 No. shipping containers for office and storage ancillary to the allotment use, installation of a Tipi for activities ancillary to the allotment use and the provision of an internal vehicular track consisting of hardstanding, leading from the site access to the containers.”

“(12) The use of the land as allotments is not part of this proposal as it falls within the definition of ‘agriculture’ and is not therefore classed as 'development' as defined by section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It is only the operational development that requires planning permission in this case - the shipping containers, Tipi and hardsurfacing to the internal access. Consideration of this application should therefore be focused on these matters only.”

“(1) The application site is located to the south of Shirehall Road and covers an approximate area of 3.34 Hectares. The site comprises a large field that slopes from west to east with a significant ridge that bisects the site, indicated on the site location plan by a single line travelling north to south across the site. It is currently lawfully in use as allotments.”

“(2) To the north are residential properties within the village of Hawley. To the south is Hawley Garden Centre. A landscaping commercial business occupies the land to the west. The wider area is characterised by a mix of open agricultural fields which lie between the built up area and are dissected by the A2 and M25.”

“(13) The only relevant history for this site are historic permissions from the 1960s relating to various agricultural uses. However, there has been an enforcement investigation into the use of the land as an allotment and an application for the operational development on site was invited.”

“(72) The proposed development is considered to be ‘not inappropriate’ development in the Green Belt as it is the provision of appropriate facilities associated with an existing agricultural/allotment use, and does not otherwise have a harmful impact on openness nor has significant conflict with the purposes of the Green Belt.”

“(73) The development is otherwise acceptable in terms of its impact on residential amenity, highway safety, character and appearance, biodiversity and drainage.”

“(14) Environment Agency make no comments on the application.”

“(15) Kent Public Rights of Way comment that the Public Right of Way DR328 lies to the west of the containers and Tipi and will be unaffected by the application. No works can be undertaken on a Public Right of Way without express consent of the Highways Authority.”

“- Containers and associated structures in this planning application will erode the greenbelt protection status changing it in the future (E.g. to brownfield land) - Tarmac road track - surface should allow car movement and parking but also water dispersal into the substrate - Use of the Tipi for purposes outside of agricultural activities such as yoga [representative provides link to roots allotment website] - ‘Scenery’ destroyed by shipping containers and a tipi - Entrance…”

“- Safer access should be provided from Hawley Road - Noise from opening and closing of containers and people gathering tools as well as parking - Cars parked facing into neighbouring windows impacting on privacy - Urbanisation of what should remain open countryside - Encroachment into countryside, green belt policy exists to safeguard openness - Cluttered semi-industrial appearance wholly inappropriate - Portaloo / toilet…”

“The Board had regard to the circulated update which contained an additional representation received from a member of the public and the officer response.”

“This item was not called down for debate and so the Chair moved a motion to support the officer’s recommendation to grant planning permission. The motion was seconded, put to a vote and carried.”

“To grant planning permission subject to conditions in the report.”

“With three months of the date of this permission, the external surfaces of the shipping containers hereby approved shall be painted a matte dark green (RAL 6002 or as otherwise agreed in writing) and shall be maintained as such thereafter.”

“The use of the three shipping containers and Tipi hereby approved shall be only for agricultural purposes associated with and ancillary to the use as allotments and for no other use whether permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (or any order revoking or re- enacting that Order) or not.”