Nine employment buildings at Gosden Green Nursery, Southbourne, Emsworth

What was proposed

The outline proposal sought nine employment buildings, retaining access, with offices, research and development, light industry, parking and landscaping.

“Proposal Outline application all matters reserved except Access - demolition of 10 no. existing buildings and redevelopment of site with 9 no. buildings for employment use within Classes E(g) (office, research & development and light industrial uses), with associated access, parking and landscaping.”

“The application site is accessed from the A259 and is located to the south west of Hermitage. It is within the rural area outside of the settlement boundary and within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape. The site was previously in horticultural use, but via a combination of lawful use certificates and planning permissions the lawful use is established as storage and distribution.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is outside Hermitage’s settlement boundary, within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape, and contains buildings, containers and open storage.

“The site is occupied by a combination of former horticultural buildings, storage containers and open storage areas. Planning permission and certificates of lawfulness have been granted at various times authorising the use of the site for storage and distribution (class B8) use. This includes the use of large greenhouses in the centre of the site which have recently been removed owing to their poor condition.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions and lawful development certificates established storage and distribution uses, while two redevelopment applications were refused and dismissed.

“23/00460/ELD - Existing lawful development certificate for the use of polytunnel for the storage of motor vehicles. STATUS: Granted…”

“20/00032/FUL - Demolition of existing B8 and B1 buildings and erection of replacement buildings for a mix of B8 and B1 uses, with access, parking and landscaping. STATUS: Refused and dismissed…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from the planning officer, a parish council representative and the applicant’s agent.

What members discussed

Members discussed storage, ecological corridors, hard-standing removal, drainage, bird boxes, operating hours and native planting.

“[name withheld] briefed Members on the proposal and referred to the update sheet. An additional representation has been received, highlighting storage areas being used on site. Officers recommended that the ecological corridors detailed in the layout plan are included in the S106 agreement, alongside the landscape management plan.”

“[name withheld] highlighted the minor changes made to conditions 12 & 22 regarding numbering; the wording remains unchanged. Officers have also recommended an additional informative, to include amendments to the landscaping details to the southern boundary. During a recent visit Officers have also noted that further works have been undertaken on site and have therefore recommended a slight alteration in condition 14, involving a method statement for removal of hard standing.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee voted to defer for a Section 106 agreement and then permit the application subject to the stated conditions and informatives.

“Following a vote by show of hands, the Committee agreed to support the report recommendation to defer for Section 106 then permit.”

“Resolved: Defer for Section 106 then permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.”

Minutes