Nine holiday shepherds’ huts at Fleet Farm Cottages, Richborough Road, Ash

“25/00353 – Change of use of land for stationing of 9 mobile shepherds’ huts as holiday accommodation with access, parking and landscaping, together with retrospective raising of land – Fleet Farm Cottages, Richborough Road, Ash Reason for report – Number of contrary views (9 letters of objection).”

“The application site is a roughly rectangular parcel of land of approximately 0.5 hectares which comprises a former Ash coppice located to the west of Cooper Street Drove. The site contains established trees and vegetation to its perimeter, with scattered individual and clusters of small trees within the site. The majority of the former Ash trees which formed the coppice have been cleared.”

“The application proposes a new vehicular access to the south of the eastern boundary from Cooper Street Drove to serve 10no. parking spaces (one per shepherds hut and one staff parking space) set upon grass crete to the east of the site. Several existing trees are proposed to be retained and further landscaping is proposed across the site in the form of new trees, vegetation and grassland.”

“DDC Environmental Protection – Raise concerns over soil content from the raising of the land. Seek information to remove our concerns in the form of waste (soil) transfer notes with volumes and dates for all material brought onto the site, along with any certification of topsoil. Or alternatively, request conditions to ensure that the site can be appropriately sampled post land raising to ensure it is suitable for use.”

“KCC Highways – The ATC Survey has provided a reduced splay at the 85 th percentile speeds, which we accept. The access will serve as an additional passing place, a betterment to existing arrangements on a narrow road which does not allow two way movements. The turning area is shy of the 6m standard to allow vehicles to enter and egress in a forward gear. We are content that this is achievable given the land situated behind the area.”

“The proposed methods of foul and surface water drainage are considered to be acceptable in principle. As limited details of the proposed drainage have been provided with the submission, it is considered appropriate to secure details of the drainage proposals prior to commencement to ensure these are acceptable. Subject to this condition, the impact of the development upon flooding and drainage is considered to be acceptable.”

“Overall, Local Plan Policies SP6 and E4 and paragraph 88 of the NPPF support tourism development and provision of additional holiday accommodation, including in the countryside where appropriate.”

“In respect of land stability, the Council’s Environmental Protection team had raised no concerns, commenting that shepherd’s huts were relatively insubstantial structures that did not require the sort of traditional foundations that could affect land stability. An additional condition would be added requiring details of refuse storage.”

“Councillor Nee sought reassurance that the wording of the environmental protection conditions would reflect the comprehensive comments made by the Council’s Environmental Protection team. He commented that land raising was sometimes used as an opportunity to dump contaminants and, for this reason, he wanted the soil to be tested by way of a physical examination rather than just a desktop exercise.”

“RESOLVED: (a) That, subject to payment or the provision of a valid Unilateral Undertaking to secure the relevant SPA contribution, Application No DOV/25/00353 be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:”