Four mobile home plots at Station Yard, Pleasley, Mansfield

What was proposed

The application sought four permanent residential mobile home plots for travelling showpeople, with parking, turning areas and amenity space.

“SUMMARY This is a full planning application for the material change of use of land known as Station Yard, Pleasley (formerly Pleasley West Railway Station) to station 4 residential mobile home plots for travelling showpeople with the establishment of parking, turning and amenity areas within the site.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The vacant established yard is outside Pleasley’s development envelope, accessed by a private drive and surrounded by trees, homes and country park land.

“SITE & SURROUNDINGS The site is an established travelling showpeople’s yard, which is currently vacant and surrounded by trees and vegetation. The site is accessed by an unadopted driveway in private ownership that serves nine dwellings off Chesterfield Road known as ‘Midland Cottages’. The site is designated as countryside within the adopted Local Plan, just outside the development envelope of Pleasley Village. The private drive slopes uphill from Chesterfield Road.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

The site had permission for one showman’s caravan and equipment, while later applications for homes, two mobile homes and a certificate were withdrawn.

“BOL/1988/0192 Planning Permission was granted in 1988 for the use of the site for storage, maintenance and repair of showman’s plant and equipment together with winter living quarters to comprise 1 showman’s caravan under office code BOL/1988/0192. The development was implemented and has established the site’s use for travelling showpeople’s accommodation for one winter caravan and equipment as acceptable in principle.”

“24/00277/LAWEX An application for a Certificate of Lawfulness for the existing use of the site for the stationing of 2 mobile homes for permanent use by travelling showpeople was registered under office code 24/00277/LAWEX and withdrawn in October 2024.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal met travelling showpeople policy, made use of previously developed land and raised no identified material concerns.

“A large proportion of the site is previously developed land which needs to be given significant weight in the overall planning balance in accordance with Policy SS9 (a) of the Adopted Local Plan, which supports development on previously developed sites in countryside locations subject to all material planning considerations.”

“It should be noted the wording of Policy LC5 does not require planning applications to demonstrate how individuals fall within the definition of Gypsies, Travellers or Travelling Showpeople. As such, it is considered unreasonable to insist that the applicants provide evidence of how they fall within the definition of travelling showpeople (also noting the Council removed the personal occupancy condition from the site in 2023).”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Consultees raised no objections subject to conditions covering drainage, contamination, stability, highways, biodiversity and landscaping.

“Bolsover District Council - Environmental Health 10.04.2025 Further information is required regarding foul drainage provision. Environmental Health’s standard ground contamination conditions will also be necessary to ensure the site is developed free from unacceptable levels of land contamination. 30.04.2025.”

Officer report

What people said

The parish council, a councillor and residents objected over countryside impact, traffic, drainage, contamination, ecology, land stability and future expansion.

“Pleasley Parish Council Concerns raised over how it can be guaranteed the development will stay for four mobile homes and there won’t be more on the site. There is also a site on Common Lane for travellers. It has been requested that the application is rejected on behalf of the residents of Pleasley. There is already a campsite for caravans at the Black Rock development. Historic complaints have been made in the past about this notorious site.”

“In response to Cllr Kirkham’s land ownership query the planning agent has provided land registry title extents for the applicant’s land. The site includes the private access road with notices served on individual owners of the private road accordingly and goes up to the public highway in accordance with a road record plan. As such the applicant has demonstrated that the application site does not encroach onto County Council owned land.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Councillor Tom Kirkham raised concerns, while the agent spoke in favour of the application.

Members’ discussion

Members asked questions about repairing and maintaining the road surface and installing a locked gate.

“Questions were raised on the repair and maintenance of the road surface and the installation of a locked gate.”

Minutes

The committee vote

Councillor Phil Smith moved and Councillor Tom Munro seconded a resolution to approve the application subject to conditions.

“Moved by Councillor Phil Smith and seconded by Councillor Tom Munro RESOLVED that application no. 25/00162/FUL be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”

Minutes