Mobile home dwelling at Moss Bank Farm, Borras, Wrexham

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought to use agricultural land for a mobile home, drainage, parking, a driveway and access.

“Description of Development NEWID DEFNYDD TIR O AMAETHYDDOL I BRESWYL I GYNNWYS LLEOLI ANNEDD CARTREF SYMUDOL, DRAENIO, PARCIO, DREIF A MYNEDIAD / CHANGE OF USE OF LAND FROM AGRICULTURAL TO RESIDENTIAL TO INCLUDE SITING OF MOBILE HOME DWELLING, DRAINAGE, PARKING, DRIVEWAY AND ACCESS”

“Proposal The application seeks retrospective planning permission for the change of use of land for the siting of a mobile home, together with associated drainage parking, driveway and access.”

Officer report

The site

The mobile home is behind existing buildings at a farm in open countryside, including a farmhouse, converted barn and Dutch barn.

“Site Description Moss Bank Farm is on the north-western side of Borras Road. The mobile home is located to the rear of an existing complex of buildings that include a farmhouse, a brick barn that has been converted to residential use, and a Dutch barn. The site is situated in open countryside.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier permissions covered works to the main dwelling, conversion of the barn to dwellings and related condition approvals.

“Site History Moss Bank Farm (Main dwelling) P/2019/0888 TWO STOREY EXTENSION, RENOVATIONS AND ERECTION OF DETACHED DOUBLE GARAGE. Granted 27.1.2020 Moss Bank Farm (Barn) P/2020/0463 CONVERSION OF BARN TO DWELLING AND ERECTION OF DOUBLE GARAGE. Granted 16.12.2020”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

Consultees raised drainage, ecology, highway, quarry, noise and air-quality matters, while the community council supported a personal occupancy condition.

“Consultation Responses Community Council: Considers that there should be a condition attached to any approval granted that this mobile home is only a dwelling for the current occupants.”

“With regards to the Noise Assessment, comments that there is no reference to mineral policy / guidance with regards to noise within the document. Further, a week long study to see noise impacts from the quarry site is hardly going to be representative. For example, workings could be occurring hundreds of metres away that week but will occur much closer in a couple months.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke in favour, and the Armed Forces Champion addressed the committee about the Council’s Armed Forces Covenant duties.

Members’ discussion

Members considered the applicant’s military-related personal circumstances, the countryside policy conflict, possible removal conditions and quarry noise.

“Whilst this was unusual, the applicant’s personal circumstances in relation to his military history should be considered as special provision in this case. • Confirmation that the site was in the open countryside and didn’t accord with the policy. • Suggestion that if Members were minded to grant permission, consideration be given to adding a condition which required that if the applicant’s no longer lived…”

“This document is also available in Welsh This Committee’s meetings are webcast and can be viewed by visiting the webcast library at: https://wrexham.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcasts on the site, that the mobile home be removed. • Recognition that the noise from the nearby quarry could be significant.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted with personal occupancy, removal, biodiversity and advisory requirements.

“RESOLVED – That permission be granted subject to the following conditions and advisory note:”

“Condition 3 Within six months of the date of this decision a scheme to deliver a net benefit to biodiversity shall have been submitted for the written approval of the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include a timetable for its implementation. Biodiversity enhancement shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details and thereafter retained for the lifetime of the development.”

Minutes