Static holiday caravan at Wells House Caravan Site Wells House Farm, Cartmel

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought for a static caravan, concrete base, decking, parking and turning area for short-term holiday accommodation.

“SUMMARY 1.1 The application seeks retrospective planning permission for the change of use of land for the siting of a static caravan for use as short-term holiday accommodation and permission for the associated operational development (a concrete base and decking). The development consists of an extension to the Cartmel Park Caravan Park, and the proposed caravan would share access and on-site facilities with the other caravans within the wider site.”

Officer report

Objections raised

Three objections concerned the caravan’s scale, boundary position, lighting, noise, visibility, residential amenity and another refused application.

“REPRESENTATIONS 6.1 3 objections were received. The reasons for objection are as follows: - The scale of the caravan installed on the site; - The proximity of the caravan to the boundary; - Artificial lighting and the impacts on dark skies and residential amenity; - Impacts from noise; - The visibility of the site, including from the Royal Oak garden; - The refused planning application to site a caravan on an adjacent site (Note: the issues affecting the adjacent site…”

“Note: the application site doesn’t fall within a designated dark sky and is located within the centre of the village immediately adjacent many uses without restrictions on artificial lighting; therefore, it is considered unreasonable to put additional controls on artificial lighting.”

Officer report

People who spoke

A parish council representative and a resident spoke against the application, while the applicant spoke in support.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed external lighting, winter screening, the caravan’s dominance, site density, biodiversity measures and the conservation officer’s position.

“Cllr Dean responded to queries from members confirming that he felt the siting of the caravan was a land grab and that screening in winter was an issue due to the dominance of the structure.”

“The Senior Planning Specialist clarified that it was common for caravan sites to have gaps with units being removed and returned to replace with newer units. He added that the site in general was of low BNG value so it would be unreasonable to impose more than bird boxes and that the Conservation Officer had not objected to the proposal.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Members moved and seconded approval, then granted permission with revised hedging requirements and added conditions for lighting and a bird box.

“A motion to approve planning permission, subject to the variation of condition 5, the addition of bird boxes into the conditions and a condition to limit external lighting was moved and seconded.”

“RESOLVED, that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:-”

Minutes