Agricultural shed at Monument Farm Cranoe Road, Hallaton

The site and its surroundings

The countryside site south-west of Hallaton contains fields, livestock facilities, a track, containers and part of a scheduled monument.

“The site is located within the countryside to the south-west of Hallaton village, on the north side of Cranoe Road. The application site consists of one field; however, the applicant also owns the field to the north. The first field down to grass rises up from road to a hedgerow then the second field slopes downwards in the northerly direction. There is a concrete apron up to metal access gates flanked by ironstone wall.”

“Part of the site falls within a designated Scheduled Monument – Iron Age and Roman ritual site (List Entry No. 1483470). To the north of this, a further Scheduled Monument is located – Hallaton Motte and Bailey (List Entry No. 1010487)”

Officer report

Earlier applications and enforcement

Earlier agricultural-building applications were withdrawn or required planning permission, while enforcement activity followed works within the scheduled monument.

“18/01423/AGR Prior Notification for the erection of an agricultural building. Planning permission required (officer comment: not a prior approval as it is a new agricultural building on less than 5ha.)”

“Planning Enforcement: We have been involved with this land from an enforcement perspective since 16.04.2021. There was little activity between the end of 2021 as the landowner experienced issues getting the land put into his name. Once this had been resolved we became involved again on 17.09.2024 when we received reports of works taking place within the Scheduled Ancient Monument.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the agricultural use, design, landscape impact, residential amenity, highway safety and heritage effects were acceptable overall.

“The proposed agricultural building is acceptable in principle in the countryside. Its siting and design do not adversely affect the rural area including the local landscape designation and Important local viewpoints. It does not adversely affect residential amenity and highway safety.”

“As identified by HE there is a low level of less than substantial harm associated with the development as proposed. This less than substantial harm is balanced with the public benefits of a better defined and controlled space benefiting the effective management of the scheduled monument. Whilst limited, these benefits are proportionate to the limited adverse impacts of the proposal.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

Objectors, the applicant’s agent and a Hallaton Parish Council representative spoke before members questioned the speakers and officers.

The committee’s debate

Members proposed approval subject to removing wording that would have prevented all outside storage within the site.

“The Development Management Team leader highlighted the amended conditions within the Supplementary Paper and also advised Condition 8 needed to be amended as not allowing any outside storage “within the site” would be unreasonable. Representations were heard from objectors, Alice Measom and Robert Waite; the applicant’s agent, Harry Fowler; and a representative of Hallaton Parish Council, Councillor Jeremy Mears.”

Minutes

The final decision

Planning permission was approved subject to the conditions, with the outside-storage condition applying only to the blue land.

“Therefore, Planning Permission was approved for the reasons set out in the report and supplementary paper, subject to Planning Conditions as outlined and removal from Condition 8 (No outside storage) of the wording ‘within the site’. Condition 8 would therefore read as below. No Outside Storage No materials, goods, plant, equipment or any waste materials shall be stored within the blue land.”

Minutes