Five-pitch traveller site at Land Adjacent To The Spinney, Pagham Road, Runcton

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought for five traveller pitches, each with a mobile home, parking and touring caravan space, plus one communal day room.

“The application is for 5 Gypsy and Traveller pitches, each with a mobile home, two parking spaces and touring caravan space. A communal day room is also proposed. The application is retrospective as development has commenced on site.”

“Planning permission is sought retrospectively for the change of use of land to a travellers caravan site for 5 no. pitches and 1 no. communal day room.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

Most of the site lies in countryside beside the Runcton settlement boundary, forming a visual gap between Runcton and development towards North Mundham.

“The majority of the site is located within the defined countryside, being adjacent to the Settlement Boundary of Runcton. The access, from the east of the site, is within the Settlement Boundary. The site has the benefit of planning permission granted at appeal for the change of use of land to a traveller’s caravan site for 5No. pitches, including 4 No. dayrooms and hardstandings.”

“The application site forms a visual gap between the settlement of Runcton and other development along Lagness Road, towards the Settlement boundary of North Mundham. The access is existing onto Mill Lane, with the access lane set back from the public highway.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the proposal was a betterment over the permitted scheme and its identified harm did not outweigh the benefits.

“The layout submitted shows a betterment over that of the permitted scheme, in that the orientation of the mobile homes and the removal of the individual day rooms from plots means that the massing along the northern boundary would be broken up. The submitted landscaping plans provide some more detail than previously proposed, showing planting to take place in front of fencing across the northern boundary of the site.”

“The proposal is considered to have an urbanising visual impact which would noticeably close the gap between the settlements of Runcton and North Mundham, and would therefore result in their coalescence causing harm to the character and appearance of the area. This results in moderate harm, weighing against the proposal.”

Officer report

Consultation and objections

The parish council initially objected, while highways, drainage, environmental strategy and ecology consultees raised no objection subject to conditions or contributions.

“North Mundham Parish Council objects to the planning application for reasons which can be summarised as follows:”

“No objection relating to bats, birds, hedgehogs, and Recreational Disturbance, subject to conditions and Recreational Disturbance contribution being secured.”

Officer report

What happened at committee

An officer presented the application, outlined the site and layout, and explained the differences from the appeal scheme; no representations were made.

Questions and discussion

Members asked about preventing a sixth caravan in the dayroom and requested native hedging instead of laurel; officers referred to conditions and noted the request.

“Addressing concerns that the location of the dayroom may be used for by a sixth caravan; [name withheld] drew attention to Condition 3 which restricted the number of caravans allowed on site. In addition, condition 15 and 19 secured the use of the proposed dayroom.”

“In response to a request for native hedging to be planted instead of laurel; [name withheld] drew attention to condition 9 which secured landscaping arrangements, but acknowledged the request and would take away.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee agreed by a show of hands to support the recommendation to permit.

“Following a vote by show of hands, the Committee agreed to support the report recommendation to permit.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

“Resolved; Permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.”

Minutes