Hale Carr Caravan Park, Hale Carr Lane, Heysham PDF 66 KB

primary and secondary schools as well as local shopping and medical services. Replacement of
these pitches with such ease of access to services would be very difficult to achieve and could lead
to the development of sites in less suitable locations, often on the edge of the urban area where they
are less accessible and have greater landscape impact
7.6
The applicant has not provided any information/evidence to demonstrate that there is no longer a
need for the pitches, indeed the site is still currently occupied by gypsy/travellers in all but 7 of the
units. In addition no submission has been put forward for alternative provision. As a consequence it
is considered that the current proposal will be contrary to policies H15 of the Lancaster District Local
Plan and Policy SC4 of the Lancaster Core Strategy. Furthermore, the development would
undermine draft Policy L6 of North West Plan Partial Review 2009 which is seeking the provision of
a minimum of 40 additional pitches above 2007 levels.
8.0 Planning Obligations
8.1 None.
9.0 Conclusions
9.1 It must be recognised that the applicants are victims rather than deliberate perpetrators of the
present breach of planning control. It was for this reason that Members resolved in June 2007 to
pursue a policy of under-enforcement to enable the units to return to gypsy/traveller use over time.
Members will also be aware of the decision in January 2009 to approve the removal of occupancy
over the whole site at Oxcliffe New Farm under application numbers 08/01287/RCN and
08/01303/RCN. However, given the RSS partial review, and the reinforcing comments made by our
Strategic Housing Officers, any further loss of provision will lead to an undermining of pitch provision
in the District and a demand for the development of further gypsy/traveller pitches within the District
to compensate for the loss as well as the additional need indentified at Regional level. Given the
very strong policy position, and the lack of identifiable compensatory provision in the planning
application, the proposal is considered to be contrary to policy and should be resisted.
Recommendation
That Planning Permission BE REFUSED for the following reasons:
1.
2.
3.
Contrary to Saved Policy H15 of the Lancaster District Local Plan and SC4 of the Lancaster Core
Strategy - no evidence that the site is no longer needed for gypsies or that alternative
accommodation is available for them elsewhere.
Contrary to the aims of draft policy L6 North West Plan Partial Review 2009 to ensure the provision
of 40 additional residential pitches above the 2007 position.
Precedent for conversion of other gypsy caravan sites to general use.
Human Rights Act
This recommendation has been reached after consideration of the provisions of The Human Rights Act.
Unless otherwise stated in this report, the issues arising do not appear to be of such magnitude to override the
responsibility of the City Council to regulate land use for the benefit of the community as a whole, in
accordance with national law.
Background Papers
None.