One traveller pitch at Land At Shortwood Road, Pucklechurch

The site and surroundings

The 0.19-hectare site is part of a field in the Green Belt and open countryside beside an established traveller site.

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use of a 0.19ha plot of former agricultural land to a Gypsy and Traveller caravan site, to facilitate the formation of 1no. pitch, comprising the siting of 1no. mobile home, 1no. touring caravan and the erection of 1no. detached dayroom, with hard-standing and associated works, on land adjacent to Meadow View, which is an established Gypsy/Traveller Site.”

“The site lies some 1.5km SW of Pucklechurch in the Green Belt and comprises part of a field to the rear of Nos. 1-3 Meadow View, which lies off the north side of the B4465 Shortwood Road. Meadow View is an existing traveller’s site which lies to the south of the application site, and was consented under P19/19181/F with conditions. PK18/0959/F relates to the change of agricultural land to that for the keeping of horses, part of which is the current application site.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

The surrounding traveller site has a history of approvals and appeals, while an application for a self-build dwelling was refused in 2024.

“Meadow View is an established Gypsy/Traveller Site. Over time there have been several planning applications, the most recent being as follows:”

“P24/02021/F - Erection of 1no. self-build dwelling with associated works. Refused 21 st Oct. 2024”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the site was Grey Belt, the need was substantial, services were reasonably accessible and benefits outweighed limited harm.

“Overall Planning Balance 5.69 The development site has been found to be ‘Grey Belt’ land and as such the scheme would not be inappropriate development that would harm the openness of the Green Belt.”

“The site has reasonable access to the range of services and facilities within Pucklechurch. There is no impression that the site and its occupants would be deliberately isolated from the rest of the community. This attracts moderate weight, as does the fact that this site is immediately deliverable and adjacent to an existing authorised Gypsy/Traveller site.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The parish council objected over Green Belt and visual harm, while drainage and transport consultees raised no objections subject to conditions.

“Pucklechurch Parish Council Pucklechurch parish council objects to this application on the following grounds.”

“The topography of the land in question is extremely prominent from the roadside which is harmful to the visual amenity and openness of the Green Belt.”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

One local resident objected that the proposal used Green Belt agricultural land and extended the existing traveller site.

“Local Residents 1no. local resident has objected to the proposal. The concerns raised are summarised as follows: - the site is agricultural land and is within the Green Belt - the application contravenes planning policies CS34 & CS5 - the application represents an extension of the existing traveller encampment…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A parish council representative, the agent and ward councillors addressed visual harm, need, sustainability, planning history and site conditions.

Members’ debate

Members received clarification about enforcement, levels, Grey Belt, services, landscape, the listed building and biodiversity gain before considering the balance of harm and benefits.

“It is considered that by reasons of the separation distances involved, the limited levels of direct inter-visibility ( clear views restricted to view from an attic window as opposed to a view of a landscape from a principal room), the intervening levels of planting (field hedgerows), the scale of the development and the existing context and the local topography, the development proposals would not result in a change in setting that would cause harm to the overall…”

“(i) information about the steps taken or to be taken to minimise the adverse effect of the development on the biodiversity of the onsite habitat and any other habitat; (ii) the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat; (iii) the post-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat; (iv) any registered offsite biodiversity gain allocated to the development and the biodiversity and the biodiversity value of that gain in relation to the development; (v) any…”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to grant permission with the reported conditions and an additional biodiversity gain plan condition passed by four votes to one, with three abstentions.

“Councillor Angela Morey moved that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out within the report, and the following additional condition:”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the reported conditions and an additional condition requiring approval of a biodiversity gain plan before development began.

“RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out within the report, and the following additional condition:”

Minutes