Four traveller pitches at Sherleys Farm, St Margaret's at Cliffe

“The remainder of the site comprises a concrete single-track access road from Upper Road, with 4no. single-storey outbuildings arranged around a circular concrete track, and a grassed amenity area within its centre. There is also a large, grassed field to the northeast of the access track which is within the applicant’s ownership.”

“The site is flat and sits on a level plateau, with extensive arable farmland surrounding it to the east, north south-west and west. There is a small, wooded area and clifftop grassland across Upper Road to the south-east of the site.”

“DOV/22/01011 Refused (Allowed on Appeal 23/01/2024) - Change of use of land to Gypsy/Travellers site for 3no. pitches, each pitch to provide space for mobile home, touring caravan, and associated parking for car and light goods vehicle. (Officer Note: the appeal Inspector found that the provision of 3no.”

“DOV/19/00985 Granted - Removal of Condition 1 of planning permission DOV/13/00760 to allow non-restrictive occupation (application under Section 73)”

“The agent for the applicant has confirmed that the intention is for the septic tank on site to be replaced with a larger one, which would be sufficient to serve the proposed population on the site. Details of this can reasonably be required by planning condition, particularly as the site is within Groundwater Source Protection Zone 3.”

“At the time the Inspector was of the view that, subject to the imposition of suitable conditions, the site was suitable for such development with no visual harm to the designated landscape and considered the site to not be remote from the nearest settlement, thereby being a sustainable location.”

“St Margaret’s Parish Council: Objects to the application on the grounds that: - Overdevelopment of the site, which is outside confines and within the National Landscape - The proposal would be more visible than the scheme allowed at appeal and a condition was imposed to limit the visual impact - There is no safe walking route to the village - Static rather than touring caravans should be allowed if DDC is minded to approve.”

“Planning Policy Team – a detailed landscaping scheme would be preferable, and it would be potentially harmful if parking spills outside plots onto the land to the south of the red line or around the circular access track – a condition is recommended in relation to the latter. It is not clear that the pitches contain space for a touring caravan in addition to a static, commercial vehicle and car, plus external amenity space.”

“The Committee was advised that a previous application for three pitches had been refused and then allowed at appeal. The pitches which were the subject of that appeal had been implemented and were currently well laid out and maintained. The Senior Planner explained that it was the development of plots 4, 5, 6 and 7 that were now under consideration. Surfacing of the plots had already been carried out and some boundary planting had also been undertaken.”

“In response to Councillor Back, the Senior Planner and Team Leader (Development Management) (TL) clarified that the site that was the subject of this application was different to the site of the previous application that had been allowed at appeal. Some Members expressed concerns about external lighting and the fact that landscaping required under a previous permission had not been fully implemented.”

“(v) Landscaping and tree planting details to be submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority prior to commencement of the development and implementation prior to caravans being brought onto the site;”

“(ix) No external lighting unless details have been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority;”