Decision made on plans for holiday accommodation in village

Planners at Wyre have given the green light to proposals to build new holiday accommodation in an Over Wyre village.

Councillor’s on Wyre’s planning committee were divided over the application for the erection of a two-storey holiday accommodation building (Use Class C3) with a first-floor balcony, at Cobblestone Barn, Staynall Lane in Hambleton.

Applicants Mr And Mrs Clarkson intended to utilise part of an existing single storey stable building at the site, which includes existing holiday cottages.

The committee noted that the planning officer had recommended the application be refused on grounds including the countryside location, visual impact, residential amenity, highway and parking and flood risk and drainage issues.

However, Cllr Julie Robinson presented the scheme before the committee due to the site being “in a sustainable area and the proposal supporting the proposed use of tourism.”

In addition, it was contended that there was no visual impact to surrounding neighbours.

Members of the committee went on a tour of the site prior to the meeting to enable them to obtain a better understanding of the proposal and its location.

The application site was a stable building and surrounding land, accessed from a track off the southern side of Staynall Lane in Hambleton.

The planning officer had concluded in a report to the committee: “The proposal is sited in the countryside and is in a poorly accessible location, so would be reliant on the movement of occupants to and from the site by car.

“There would be limited options for sustainable transport to access services, shops and recreation, so that in the main the use of the development would be reliant on the car.

“This would not form sustainable development and would be contrary to the requirements of planning policies of the Adopted Local Plan, and of the National Planning Policy Framework.”

Nevertheless, a Planning and Design Statement on behalf of the application said: “There are no adverse impacts that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the substantial benefits of the proposal when assessed against the Framework as a whole.

“The development is fully policy-compliant, supported by national guidance, reinforced by case law and represents sustainable development in every relevant respect.”

A majority vote meant that the application was approved.

Cllr Claire Rimmer, a Preesall member who was on the planning committee, said after the meeting: “The planning officer made some some strong points but it was felt that the merits of these proposals, the high quality of the holiday accommodation being offered and the fact there is good visibility on the straight main road meant that the advantages of this application outweighed the issues raised.”