One dwelling at Land Off Back Lane, Brereton Green

What was proposed

The application sought permission in principle for up to one dwelling.

“This application seeks Permission in Principle (PiP) for the erection of up to 1 dwelling.”

Officer report

The site

The site is agricultural land north of Back Lane, outside Brereton Green’s village boundary, with homes nearby and pasture beyond.

“The application relates to a parcel of land north of Back Lane, located some 136m at its closest point to the junction with the Newcastle Road North (A50). The site is on the edge of the village of Brereton Green which is washed over by the designated Open Countryside and does not have a defined settlement boundary, although as per policy PG10 it does have a defined village infill boundary.”

Officer report

Planning history

An agricultural building was approved with conditions in 2017, while an earlier prior-notification application was refused in 2016.

“17/3285C - Proposed Agricultural Building - Approved with conditions 14/SEP/2017”

“16/3261C - Prior Notification proposed agricultural building - Refused 22/JUL/2016”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the site was accessible and the benefits of one home outweighed the identified harm under the housing-supply balance.

“That being said, the Council is unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing, and paragraph 11d of the NPPF is therefore engaged in this case. The balance is that planning permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the NPPF when taken as a whole.”

“It is recognised there are several benefits that would be achieved through the scheme. The NPPF seeks to boost significantly the supply of housing and the development of 1no. dwelling would make a small contribution to meeting the Council’s housing need.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

The proposal conflicted with countryside and neighbourhood-plan policies, but officers considered the site sustainable and identified no decisive harm from losing a small agricultural parcel.

“The application site is a parcel of undeveloped land in agricultural use. The site is within the open countryside, and it lies to the north of Back Lane close to the infill village boundary for Brereton Green but is located outside of this boundary.”

“Policy HOU1 of the Brereton Neighbourhood Plan makes reference to the Neighbourhood Plan’s own village boundary for Brereton Green (key map C20a), which this site falls outside of.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, environmental protection and United Utilities raised no objections, while Jodrell Bank made no response.

“Environmental Protection: No objection; provides informatives.”

“Jodrell Bank: No consultation response received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An agent attended the meeting and spoke about the application.

What was decided

The application was approved for the reasons set out in the officer report.

“That for the reasons set out in the report the application be APPROVED.”

Minutes