Industrial building at Sycamore House, Kirkbride, Wigton

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought for a two-unit B2 and B8 industrial building, an enclosed yard and the commercial use of former agricultural land.

“The application seeks full retrospective planning permission for the erection of a new building to operate as Use Class B2 General Industrial and B8 Storage or distribution and to regularise the associated outside enclosed area. The building was erected in 2019.”

“The lawful use of the land prior to development was an agricultural field. The application therefore also seeks the change of use of agricultural land to commercial to facilitate the erection of the building and construction of yard area.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is in open countryside beside an established engineering business, with fields, homes, an airfield and a nearby main river.

“The application site is located on the classified road that runs between the A596 at Wigton and Kirkbride. The site lies 370 metres from the settlement boundary of Kirkbride and therefore is classed as being in an open countryside location.”

“The site operates an established business for the site G W Rudd Engineering that undertakes car repairs and MOTs from modern green clad agricultural style buildings.”

Officer report

What consultees said

The parish council and highway authority had no objections, environmental health supported noise conditions, and drainage information was required by condition.

“As these applications are taken from an existing access and are retrospective, the Local Highway Authority (LHA) can confirm that we have no objection to the proposed development as it is considered that it will not have a material effect on existing highway conditions.”

“I have reviewed the proposal and the documentation submitted with the application. It is noted that the agent has suggested noise conditions to be attached to any approval to ensure that noise is controlled from the premises. I agree with these conditions and provided these noise conditions are attached then I have no objections to this application.”

Officer report

What people said

No public representations were received, while the ward councillor supported diversification, local tenants, the design and the building’s limited visibility.

“This application has been advertised by the display of site notice and neighbour letter. No representations have been received to date.”

“This provides a diversification for the existing business providing additional income to support this local rural family business. • One tenant is Natural England which needed to be located in Kirkbride to manage the designated sites. • The second tenant sells car parts which is a complementary business to the main business of GW Rudd Garage. • Building design reflects other buildings on the site. Building is not openly visible. •”

Officer report

Who spoke

The ward councillor and the agent spoke in support of the application.

What members discussed

Members asked about removing shipping containers and the future use of the units if Natural England left; officers confirmed future occupation needed an operational need.

“With the approval of the Chair, the agent confirmed to Members that the shipping containers would be removed.”

“A Member questioned conditions 3 and 4, if Natural England were to move out of the premises what would be the future use. The Senior Specialist Planner advised Members that any future occupation would have to demonstrate an operational need.”

Minutes

The vote

A member moved to accept the officer recommendation, the motion was seconded and the application was unanimously approved.

“Following consideration of the application a Member moved to accept the Officer’s recommendation, this was seconded.”

“RESOLVED – That the application be approved subject to the conditions set out below with delegated authority be given to the Service Manager for Development and Implementation to add and/or make any amendments to the conditions as considered appropriate.”

Minutes

Conditions of approval

Approval included controls on drainage, occupation, noise, outside power tools, operating hours and external storage.

“Within three months of the date of this decision full details of the surface water drainage scheme, (including a maintenance schedule) based on the hierarchy of drainage options in the National Planning Policy Guidance shall be submitted for the written approval of the Local Planning Authority. (Refer to the Cumbria Development Design Guide Appendix 7 Drainage Checklist for list of documents and evidence to be submitted).”

“No power tools shall be used outside the building hereby approved. For the avoidance of doubt, the building hereby approved has both Unit A and Unit B within it.”

Minutes