Two industrial buildings at Land At Manor Trading Estate Benfleet, Thundersley

“A paddock, pond, Benfleet FC football fields, and other open space uses are to the north of the site. The proposal seeks outline planning permission to construct: One Class B2 (General Industrial) building covering 978 square metres measuring 18.2 metres deep and 59 metres long containing approximately nine units.”

“Site vehicle access would be via a 6-metre wide carriageway plus footpath from Brunel Road. A new 6-metre wide vehicle access would also be formed from the southern portion of the western boundary to Brunel Road. No access would be formed from the 6-metre wide section of land that extends south from the site.”

“The case is presented to the Committee in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation as a ‘major’ application. SITE AND THE PROPOSAL 3.1 The site is located on the eastern edge of Manor Trading Estate in Benfleet. It comprises a 1.56-hectare rear site at the end of Brunel Road.”

“The proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework. Such development will only be permitted if very special circumstances exist to justify its inappropriateness. It is not considered that any very special circumstances have been demonstrated which either in isolation or combination carry sufficient weight to outweigh the harm to this part of the Green Belt.”

“Furthermore, it is not considered that the applicant has adequately demonstrated that the proposed development will adequately mitigate its impact on the existing parking provision within the adjoining industrial estate in order to ensure that existing operations are not compromised by the proposal. Planning Appeals 5.4 CPT/366/06/OUT - 2 new industrial buildings and refurbishment of existing industrial building for continued B1/B2 use – Dismissed – 05/02/2008.”

“That planning permission be refused for the following reasons: The proposed development, by the reason of introducing built forms that enclose undeveloped land in a manner that is inappropriate due to not meeting a demonstrable unmet need for the type of development proposed or being subject to very special circumstances, would harm the openness of Green Belt land. As such, the proposed development would be contrary to Chapter 13 in the National Planning Policy Framework.”

“This portion of the development that is within the Green Belt 1 would not benefit from exemptions due to not being previously developed land. It is not considered that any very special circumstances have been demonstrated which either in isolation or combination carry sufficient weight to outweigh the harm to this part of the Green Belt.”

“Paragraph 155 also provides developments with exemptions from being deemed ‘inappropriate’. These are: ‘a. The development would utilise Grey Belt land and would not fundamentally undermine the purposes (taken together) of the remaining Green Belt across the area of the Plan; b. There is a demonstrable unmet need for the type of development proposed; c.”

“25/0516/OUT - LAND AT MANOR TRADING ESTATE, BENFLEET The Committee considered an outline planning application comprising one B2 (General Industrial) unit and one B8 (Storage and Industrial) unit at Manor Trading Estate, Benfleet, with access and layout for determination and all other matters reserved. An addendum to the report had been published that day providing details of a response received from Place Services – Ecology withdrawing their ecology objection.”

“In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that there was no record of any lawful planning permission for activity or structures on the eastern Green Belt portion of the site and that any apparent activity had taken place without consent. The land therefore retained its Green Belt and Grey Belt status. It was also confirmed that the “golden rules” did not apply, as the proposal did not include residential development.”