Caravan site works at Land To The East Of 2 West Lane, Pirton

What was proposed

The application sought to retain hardstanding, add a concrete caravan pad and permeable driveway, and create a new access from West Lane.

“Extension of existing hardstanding. New concrete pad for siting of caravan (Development already carried out). Installation of permeable driveway (Development has commenced). Creation of vehicular access off West Lane.”

Officer report

The site and lawful use

The site lies outside the village boundary between two homes, with a small frontage area in the Conservation Area and lawful mobile-home use.

“Planning Considerations 4.1 Site and Surroundings 4.1.1 The application site consists of a rectangular shaped site located on the north side of West Lane. It is sited between two residential properties with No 2 West Lane to the west and No 1 Holwell Road to the east. A track leading to an agricultural field to the north runs along the eastern boundary of the site. A small portion of the front of the site falls within the Conservation Area.”

“It should be noted that the site already has a lawful use for mobile home. This is discussed in more detail below. The consideration of the current application is therefore limited solely to the planning merits of the area of hardstanding (already carried out), the gravel drive (commenced) and the proposed new access. Key Issues 4.3.1 The current proposal is a revised submission following the refusal of similar scheme 25/01198/FP which was refused August 2025.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier housing proposals were refused, while a 1995 certificate confirmed lawful mobile-home use; a similar 2025 application was also refused.

“95/01050/1EUD - Certificate of Lawful Use or Development – “Retention and continued use of mobile home”. Granted 21/11/1995. o Reason - ‘A mobile home in residential occupation has been located on this site for in excess of 10 years.’ The lawful use of the site is therefore for mobile home. This is discussed in more detail below.”

“25/01198/FP “Extension of existing hardstanding (Development already carried out). Installation of permeable driveway (Development has commenced). Creation of vehicular access off West Lane.” Refused 29 August 2025. Reasons for refusal: 1. The application site is located beyond the designated Pirton village boundary in the Rural Area beyond the Green Belt in the adopted North Herts Local Plan 2011 - 2031 (NHLP).”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because landscaping, fence removal and additional heritage and highway information reduced the previously identified harm.

“Some degree of harm to the openness of the countryside is caused as identified in the reason for refusal of 25/01198/FP. However, mitigating features have been submitted as part of the current application that serve to reduce the overall harm previously identified and result in a now supportable scheme.”

“However, this harm can be mitigated to an acceptable level through the provision of the proposed landscaping and the removal of the existing fence. The new access is not out of keeping with local context along this area of the road in the village which has numerous driveways. It is reasonable and necessary to control the landscaping and removal of the fence by condition.”

Officer report

What consultees and residents said

Highways raised no objection, conservation officers found no harm, while the parish council and neighbours mainly opposed the development.

“Pirton Parish Council – object for the following reasons (summarised): Refer to previous refusals at the site. Seeks clarification of the status of the site and the Certificate of Lawful Development 95/01050/1EUD and compliance of the existing mobile home. The PC state that they were unable to view 95/01050/1EUD on the public register. (The case is now available to view on the public register). Refer to Highways objection.”

“Pirton NP Steering Group – no comment at the time of writing this report. North Herts Council Ecologist – “BNG does not apply as it is retrospective and there's no ecological information submitted with the application. As such I have no comments to make.” North Herts Council Conservation Officer – the application was reviewed during a surgery session with NHDC Conservation Officer.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A councillor spoke against the application and the agent spoke in support, addressing the site’s history, landscaping, highways and previous refusal reasons.

The committee vote

The committee voted on a proposal to grant planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives in the officer report.

“Councillor Nigel Mason, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Emma Fernandes seconded and, following a vote, it was:”

“RESOLVED: That application 25/03153/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and informatives outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted, with conditions controlling the approved plans, caravan occupation, landscaping, fence removal and ecological enhancements.

“Recommendation 5.1 That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:”

“Within 3 months of the date of the consent hereby issued, full details of an Ecological Enhancement Plan (EEP) for the creation of new wildlife features such as bird/bat and bee boxes, hedgehog holes in fences and hibernacula has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The approved measures must be implemented on site within 9 months of the issue of this consent and retained on site thereafter.”

Officer report