Outdoor children’s recreation area at Land Adjacent High Park Cottages, Moorgreen, Newthorpe

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought for an outdoor children’s recreation area, associated parking and a water attenuation basin.

“Directly adjacent the cottages there is an open section of land which is used for the parking of vehicles associated with the children’s nursery. Access to the two areas of land being used for the children’s nursery is via a visitor walking route which consists of a stoned surface and is not enclosed in any way.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is in the Green Belt, with woodland, agricultural land, cottages and access from an unadopted private road.

“The application seeks retrospective planning permission for the change of use of sections of land adjacent High Park Cottages to form an outdoor children’s recreation area within planning use class F2c, along with associated works including the provision of associated parking and a water attenuation basin. The application site is located within the Nottinghamshire Green Belt on land adjacent High Park Cottages.”

“The application site is located within the Nottinghamshire Green Belt. Access to the car park serving the site is via a unadopted private road leading from Moorgreen/Willey Lane. Directly to the north west of the car park there are residential dwellings High Park Cottages, with woodland areas further beyond. There are also woodland areas located to the south and west, with agricultural land located beyond. Relevant Planning History…”

Officer report

Officers’ assessment

Officers considered the principle acceptable and found no significant harm to Green Belt openness, residents, ecology, flooding, highways or heritage assets.

“Impact on the Green Belt 6.2.1 Policy 8 of the Local Plan 2019 states that applications for development and diversification of the rural economy in the Green Belt will be supported, provided that they are in accordance with the NPPF. Policy 154 of the NPPF states that certain other forms of development are not inappropriate in the Green Belt provided they preserve its openness and do not conflict with purposes of including land within it.”

“On balance, the principle of development is considered acceptable and will enable. It is not considered the proposal will have any negative impact upon the openness of the Green Belt, residential amenity, ecology, highway safety or the…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Consultees raised no objections, while 85 responses supported the proposal and 15 objected over wildlife, noise, traffic, flooding, contamination and precedent.

“Environmental Health - No objections, satisfied with the submitted assessment of the land and no further remedial works are required. Recommend a note to applicant against having open fires on the ground site. • The Coal Authority – No objections.”

“Planning Committee 9 July 2025 5.2 Ten Neighbours were consulted on the application along with the posting of a site notice. There have been 85 responses in support and 15 comments received raising objections on the grounds of: • Impact on the natural environment and wildlife; • Increased noise; • Traffic and access concerns; • Flooding; • Contaminated land; • Precedent for further development on the land.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke for the applicant, and an objector also addressed the committee before the general debate.

The committee’s debate

Members discussed biodiversity net gain, the access road, missing toilets and concerns that car noise would affect neighbouring properties.

“The Committee gave consideration to all representations before it, with the debate covering biodiversity net gain, the impact on the access road and the lack of toilet facilities. There was concern that the suggested operating hours would mean that the noise from cars would have an impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties.”

Minutes

The vote

Members voted to amend the operating hours to exclude Sundays, Bank Holidays and other public holidays.

“It was proposed by Councillor G Bunn and seconded by Councillor G Marshall that the hours of operation for the site in condition 4 be amended to 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and at no time on Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays and other public holidays without the prior agreement in writing of the local Planning Authority. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried.”

Minutes

The final decision

Permission was granted as amended, with conditions controlling the approved plans, attenuation basin, use and operating hours.

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

“Within 3 months from the date of this permission, full details of the attenuation basin and associated works shall be submitted to and approved in writing. The attenuation basin shall then be maintained in accordance with the approved details for the life of the development.”

Minutes