Seasonal camping site at Brandside Village Hall Unnamed Road from A53 to Brand Top Farm Brandside

What was proposed

The application sought retrospective permission to use land beside the parish hall as a seasonal camping site, using existing hall facilities.

“Full planning permission is being sought to change the use of the land to a seasonal camping site.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The 0.10-hectare site adjoins the parish hall and a dwelling in a prominent hillside landscape visible from roads and footpaths.

“The development site is situated within a parcel of land (0.10 Hectares) predominately enclosed by drystone walling and adjoining the Parish Village Hall (former School) and attached residential dwelling (former School House).”

“The site lies in a prominent hillside location approximately 1km south of the A53 Buxton-Leek Road. It is visible at distance from the A53 and surrounding public footpaths. Access to the site is via a non-classified road from the junction with the A53, which also serves a number of other properties in and around Brandside.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers considered the proposal harmful to landscape character, neighbouring living conditions and highway safety because key information was missing.

“2 The development would materially harm the living conditions of occupants of neighbouring residential property contrary to Core Strategy Policy GSP3 and Development Management Policy DMC3.”

“3 Insufficient information has been submitted to properly assess the impact of the development on highway safety, contrary to policies GSP3, DMC3 and DMT3.”

Officer report

Consultation and public views

The Parish Council supported the application; five letters supported it, nine objected, and one made general comments.

“Five letters of support, nine letters of objection and one letter of general comments have been received. Summarised below: (Letters in full can be read on the website).”

“It would benefit the council to have full camping licence than the hassle of having to notify PDNPA how days are used under the sixty-day rule. • The site supports Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expeditions for young people to explore the area. • This is a small site so by its nature is self-limiting to the number of those camping. • Campers have always been respectful leaving the site clean. • Leave No Trace (LNT) is taken very seriously.”

Officer report

Public speakers

An objector and a supporter spoke under the public participation scheme.

What members discussed

Members discussed missing camping numbers and dates, shared facilities, land ownership, parking, access, refuse, supervision and the exposed site.

“-The ownership of the land subject to the planning application proposal was split between the Parish Council and the site neighbour. The neighbour was not willing for their part of the land to be used for camping.”

“-There had been insufficient details provided by the Parish Council on parking, layout, refuse collection and access to the site to determine the application other than to refuse it.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Members voted to refuse the application because of visual intrusion, harm to neighbouring living conditions and insufficient highway safety information.

“The development would materially harm the living conditions of occupants of neighbouring residential property contrary to Core Strategy Policy GSP3 and Development Management Policy DMC3.”

“Insufficient information has been submitted to properly assess the impact of the development on highway safety, contrary to policies GSP3, DMC3 and DMT3.”

Minutes