schedule of planning applications

Site context
The site is in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Green Belt (GB).
The nearest dwelling is Ashton Court, which is some 80m from the south boundary of
the application site. There are also dwellings at The Studio and Joyces Studio
further to the south west and Ashton Lodge further to the south.
The site has conifer trees on its south, north west and east boundaries and ground
levels fall from north east to south west, which may be seen from the cross-sectional
drawing. Ashton Wood is at a higher level than the application site as is the area for
the concrete clamps.
Main impacts
The main impacts will be on the Green Belt, AONB and nearby dwellings. Other
impacts are on biodiversity, highway safety and trees.
Planning policy
Un- saved Policy CSIDE1 and Policy DES8 (to be replaced by Policy HE2 of the
emerging Christchurch and East Dorset Core Strategy) of the East Dorset Local Plan
2002 and Policies HE2, HE3 and PC3 of the emerging Core Strategy (CS) are
relevant.
As a policy that is not to be replaced or saved, Policy CSIDE1 does not attract as
much weight as the others. Policy DES8 carries significant weight as it is to be
replaced in the CS, as do the CS policies given that this plan is at an advanced stage
of preparation.
The policy set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is also
applicable, in particular Section 9 (development in Green Belts), Section 10
(renewable and low carbon energy), and Section 11 (conserving and enhancing the
natural environment).
It is considered that the proposal represents a scheme for renewable energy and
farm diversification.
Impact on the Green Belt
The government recognises that new buildings to house AD systems are reasonably
necessary for the purposes of agriculture, and this is stated in Statutory Instrument
No. 748: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order
2012.
It is considered the proposal is an appropriate use in the Green Belt as it involves
agriculture. However, it is inappropriate development as it is to site containers and
construct slurry storage enclosures, is not for the erection of an agricultural building,
and not in any of the categories of development set out in the NPPF that are stated
as being appropriate. Therefore the proposed development is by definition harmful to
the Green Belt and should only be approved in very special circumstances.
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