Agenda item

REFUSED

Description of application - Change of use of agricultural land to cemetery, single storey reception building, 70 car parking spaces, access drive and formation of vehicular access to Downe Road.

Oral representations from neighbouring Ward Member, Councillor Ruth Bennett and Ward Member Councillor Richard Scoates in objection to the application were received at the meeting.

It was reported that technical highways had no objections to the application.

Members having considered the report, objections and representations, RESOLVED that PERMISSION BE REFUSED as recommended for the reasons set out in the report of the Chief Planner with reason 1 amended to read:-

‘1  The site forms part of a high quality landscape within the Green Belt and a proposed World Heritage Site and the proposed development will be seriously harmful to the openness and visual amenities of the Green Belt and the character of the area, including the views from the public footpath, contrary to Policies BE1, G1, NE6 and NE12 of the Unitary Development Plan.’

An additional 2 grounds of refusal were added to read:-

‘4  The proposed development would be harmful to the setting of Holwood House, thereby contrary to Policy BE1 of the Unitary Development Plan.

5  The proposal is likely to generate a significant level of traffic to the site which would impact detrimentally upon the surrounding road network thereby contrary to Policy T1 and T2 of the Unitary Development Plan‘.