Six grasscrete parking spaces at Plots 4, 6 (formerly 5b) and 9 Sillfield Farm, Gatebeck, Kendal

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought for six grasscrete parking spaces serving plots 4, 6 and 9, with a wooden fence and boundary hedge planting.

“Planning Application Reference No. 2025/1038/FPA Proposal: Change of use of agricultural land to form 6 grasscrete parking spaces for use in association with plots 4, 6 (formerly plot 5b) and 9.”

“SUMMARY 1.1 Retrospective Planning Permission is sought for the change of use of agricultural land to enable the provision of six grasscrete parking spaces in association with plots 4, 6 and 9. This application is a resubmission of separate applications which were previously refused due to insufficient justification and landscape impact.”

Officer report

The site

The spaces are in an adjacent field beside a former farmstead whose traditional agricultural buildings have been converted into homes.

“There is also another application within the wider site (at Plot 3) which will be presented to the Planning Committee (2025/1159/HOU) and seeks to reallocate parking within site to provide a car port and store. SITE DESCRIPTION 4.1 The application relates to Plot 4, 6 and 9 at Sillfield Farm, Gatebeck. The site benefits from an access track to the west of the residential properties and the grasscrete parking spaces are located in the adjacent field.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because additional planting provided screening, the parking was justified, and its benefits outweighed previous landscape harm.

“The application is suitably justified and the new planting provides appropriate screening. The planting maintenance can be secured by condition. On balance, given the site now benefits from additional planting, it is considered that the benefits of the additional parking outweigh the previous landscape harm. In addition, this application only relates to the grasscrete parking and does not…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke in support and said the trees were native, parking was allocated across the development, and guests could park on the road.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed extending tree maintenance and requested protection preventing tree removal without written approval for the development’s lifetime.

“Members requested clarity on whether officers could attach more years to condition 4 to ensure that development and maintenance of the planting was ensured for a longer period. Officers noted that this was a standard condition and provided time to remove diseased trees. The Senior Development Manager explained that it may be difficult to justify a longer period.”

“Members added to their query regarding condition 4, and felt that if only five years were ensured by the condition, it was possible that someone could remove the screening after this period had expired. The Committee noted that the screening had been included to limit the harm to the landscape caused by the development.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the reported conditions and an additional condition requiring written approval before tree removal.

“A motion to approve the application subject to the conditions set out within the report and the additional condition agreed by members was moved and seconded.”

“Condition (5) The native tree planting hereby approved on the Proposed Site Plan shall be maintained in accordance the approved drawing 2186-161 Rev N received by the Local Planning Authority on 30th May 2025. There shall be no tree removal without prior written approval by the Local Planning Authority for the lifetime of the development.”

Minutes