Five shipping containers at Land Rear Of 1 Nelson Road, North Walsham

What was proposed

The application sought retrospective consent to replace eight garages or storage sheds with five green shipping containers for domestic storage.

“Seeks part-retrospective planning consent for the demolition of 8no. garages on the site, and the installation of 5no. shipping containers for domestic storage purposes.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site lies between homes and a residential court, accessed by a narrow gravel track, with the containers proposed beside rear boundaries.

“The application site sits between Nos. 1-9 Nelson Road to the south, and Bloom Court to the north. It is accessed via a narrow gravel track on the west side of the site, connecting to Nelson Road to the south. The existing structures to be removed are various single storey sheds / garages, mostly with dual-pitch roofs. These are simple structures constructed of timber and/or sheet metal of limited design quality.”

“The containers are individually larger than any of the existing on-site garages, both in terms of footprint and height. The proposed layout also focuses the development into the south-west corner of the site with the containers sited immediately adjacent to one another next to the rear boundaries of Nos. 1 and 3 Nelson Road. This means that the built form would read as…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval with conditions limiting the number, appearance, lighting, outside storage, use and contamination risks.

“The proposal will see eight existing modest garages used for general storage purposes replaced with five storage containers plus security fencing. The principle of development is considered to be acceptable and, subject to a suite of planning conditions, the proposal would be considered acceptable in relation to design, amenity, highways and contamination matters.”

“Time limit • Plans • Extent of permission (max number of containers and their use) • No outside storage beyond the containers • No external lighting unless details approved • External finish of the containers and fence / gate…”

Officer report

Official consultation responses

The highway authority and environmental protection officer raised no objections, subject to conditions.

“Norfolk County Council Highway Authority – No objection subject to conditions…”

“North Norfolk District Council Environmental Protection Officer – No objection subject to condition…”

Officer report

Objections and local concerns

Five objections raised concerns about commercial use, increased traffic, disturbance, design, amenity and possible contamination.

“Concerns the site could be commercial in nature with increased traffic and amenity disturbance. • Design and amenity concerns caused by the change in design. • Reported land contamination.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A town council representative, a supporting speaker and the local member addressed the committee, with the local member opposing the application.

What members debated

Members discussed contamination, the restrictive covenant, highway pressures, operating hours, CCTV and whether domestic storage could be controlled.

“Should the application be approved, the Cllr P Heinrich sought the imposition of conditions both relating to contamination, restriction of hours, assurance that no hazardous materials would be stored on the site, that CCTV should not extend beyond the site entrance and entrance of shipping containers. However, it remained both his, and his fellow Ward Members opinion that the application should be refused.”

Minutes