Latest news with #planningapplication
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
WWF charity objects to Stow Bedon pig farm's planning changes
An environmental charity has objected to a pig farm operator's retrospective planning application. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has criticised food producer Cranswick's revised application for the Cherry Tree Farm site in Stow Bedon, Norfolk."This site represents farming against nature," said Jake White, WWF's head of legal advocacy, claiming the building of sheds not in the original application had "harmful environmental effects".Cranswick spokesperson said the changes to the original planning application - which was approved - had been recommended by the Environment Agency. Mr White said: "The WWF has deep concerns about the way in which the developer has assessed the significance of the emissions and the way in which nature impacts are addressed in the environmental impact assessment."He claimed the emissions were "damaging local highly protected sites for nature". In a statement, the Cranswick spokesperson added: "We have worked tirelessly to address the concerns raised through the Environment Agency and this has led to changes in the structure to meet the parameters of the permit."The council have had this revised planning application for over three years and even now, have requested further information."The changes made to the original approved application were on the basis of recommendations from the Environment Agency and utilise industry leading techniques for a farm of this type."We are working with the Breckland Council to address these queries but are incredibly disappointed with the length of time it has taken the council to respond to the application." Breckland Council said the application had been due to go to its planning committee in May, but had been postponed so officers could look at the "large volume of representations received". In April, a Cranswick planning application that would have seen more than 714,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs housed at a so-called megafarm in Methwold, Norfolk, was refused. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Traffic concerns over plan to convert club into 'community and prayer facility'
Concerns have been expressed over a planning application to turn a members' club into a 'community and prayer facility'. The Tyseley and Hay Mills Liberal Democrat group is strongly opposing proposals to convert the Scanlon's Club on Spring Road, Tyseley, for religious use. The application did not give any details on parking or management, leading to fears about traffic particularly during the school rush. READ MORE: Driver mowed down three women - causing mum to lose leg - after basic error in new electric BMW READ MORE: Akhmed Yakoob profiled as lawyer who says 'defence for every offence' charged with money laundering READ MORE: Mountain of bins bags as locals complain of weeks of missed collections The group urged anyone with worries to submit them to birmingham-city-council>Birmingham City Council before May 30. The group said: " A planning application has been submitted (2025/01386/PA) to convert the former Scanlon's Club to "Community and Prayer Facilities". Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox "The planning application says this would operate between 5am and midnight, seven days a week. "The application also says no changes will be made in terms of access to the site and no parking will be provided. "We are very concerned about the potential impact of this proposed development on traffic on Spring Road and the knock on impact on residents and groups, such as the local 260th Scouts (who are based to the rear of Scanlon's) and anyone using the Spring Road / Shaftmoor Lane / Olton Boulevard East / Summer Road junction. "This is a very busy area and becomes very heavily congested at the start and end of the school day with parents dropping off children at the local girls grammar school. "Scanlon's didn't have much impact as it tended to operate in the evenings however this new use would be during the day and would likely be very busy at prayer times, especially on Fridays. "There is no statement on the planning application saying how the use of the facility would be managed and how traffic issues would be mitigated so one can only assume this has not been considered." A decision on the application will be made in the near future.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Center Parcs reveals flythrough of Scottish site near Hawick
A computer-generated flythrough video of plans for the first Center Parcs holiday village in Scotland has gone on show in the company is holding its fourth and final community consultation in Hawick, ahead of submitting a formal planning application for the £400m Parcs wants to build 700 lodges and accompanying tourist facilities on a site to the north of the town - creating about 1,200 jobs.A two-day open event to see the latest on its plans - including a 3D model - is being held at Hawick Rugby Club. An updated masterplan of the proposed village is being presented along with the flythrough were also set be present on both days to discuss the planning application in the planning application is submitted it will be advertised and comments can be made directly to the council as part of the decision-making process. Plans for the park were first revealed in November last year and there have been a string of public consultation events since have been voiced about the loss of usable farmland and also that visitors to the village might not venture into surrounding has prompted questions about the wider economic benefits for the Borders as a the company has said that many people who book three or four-night stays with them at other sites then go on to "explore the area as well". Colin McKinlay, chief executive of Center Parcs, said it was "fantastic" to share their vision for the site in a new way."The flythrough video and 3D model really help bring the plans to life and add to the real sense of anticipation that has been evident at recent consultation events," he said."It's one thing to describe what we're hoping to build, but seeing it laid out visually captures the ambition of what we're planning."He said the company had worked hard to ensure its proposals reflected the feedback it had received from the community.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans lodged for new dentist, takeaway and shop signs
Plans for a new dental practice, hot food takeaway and shop amendments have been submitted to Oxford City Council planning officers this week. Shapour Sarabi has submitted an application to convert an existing residential property into a dental practice in Woodstock Road. The scheme also includes the conversion of a garage to provide a three-bed maisonette, as well as a two-storey extension, three windows, a rooflight and sub-division of a rear garden. The application's planning papers said: "The building itself is currently unoccupied but was most recently in use as a large single-family dwelling. "It is constructed of brick masonry with rendered elements and a concrete tiled roof. "It features a flat-roofed side extension over a garage, which is proposed to be revised to a more appropriate pitched form. "We trust the council will consider this application positively, and we remain open to continued dialogue to ensure this scheme delivers on both planning objectives and public service priorities." READ MORE: KNEAD Bakery opening in Oxford High Street this summer Plans have been lodged by an applicant listed as Mr N Ahmed for a current hairdressers in Grays Road, Headington, to change it into a hot food takeaway. The planning application also includes a rear storage shed, new shop sign, bin and cycle storage. Its planning statement said: "The works involve of new service counter, installation of new canopy hood or extraction, upgrading existing electrical installation, new floor and wall covering, takeaway menu signage and small external covered area to the rear including refurbishing the existing toilet. "The works and proposed use of property have no adverse impact upon the property." Applicant Eyup Odemis has submitted amended plans for alterations to the shopfront and new window frames at a property in High Street. The plan is for a cafe called Camela to move into the building. The planning papers said: "Great weight and importance has been given to desirability of preserving this Grade II listed building, surrounding listed buildings, and the Central Conservation Area as designated heritage assets. "The proposals would be sympathetic to the character and appearance of the listed building and would not cause harm to its special architectural or historic interest, nor that of surrounding buildings or Conservation Area in which it is situated." Plans have been lodged by Abdul Rashid for the sub-division of a home in St Thomas Street from two one-bed flats to create one two-bed flat. It also includes a single storey rear extension, three rooflights and bin and cycle storage. A planning application has been submitted by Brasenose College for the installation of a new accessible entrance door from the Old Quad.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Former mayor and parish councillor rapped after convincing other council members in WhatsApp chat to quash next-door neighbours' planning application
A former mayor and parish councillor has been rapped after she used a WhatsApp group chat to convince other council members to quash her next-door neighbours' planning application. Liberal Democrat Eleanor Bell abused her position as a councillor when she influenced her colleagues to vote against a garage extension, a review found. This was after her neighbours, Anna and Andrew Budge, submitted the application to Winchester City Council for their property in the Hampshire village of Hursley. Cllr Bell - who lives opposite the Budge's - objected to the proposal, which she said left her and other residents on her road 'extremely disturbed'. After the parish council advised that the application be refused, her neighbours submitted a Freedom of Information to the authority in which they were able to obtain WhatsApp evidence which demonstrated the 'active participation' of Cllr Bell in the decision. They reported the matter to Winchester City Council [WCC] who have now criticised the parish council for 'poor governance' over the matter, and Cllr Bell has been told to apologise to the couple. The review, published by Winchester City Council, stated that a complaint was made against Cllr Bell in June last year. It was alleged that she had breached the Council's Code of Conduct after she actively participated in discussions with other Parish Council members and the Clerk on a matter in which she had an interest. This came after the former mayor's neighbours submitted a planning application in January last year. The application, submitted by Mr Budge, was for an extension to the garage with a loft development to form an office on the property, which sits adjacent to Cllr Bell. Cllr Bell and her husband Alex submitted an objection on the WCC planning portal. They said that they, and other neighbours, are 'extremely disturbed' by the proposal which will impact the 'character and appearance' of their road, where houses cost £750,000 on average. The matter was considered at Hursley Parish Council, where Cllr Bell is a member, and she told the council that as a neighbour she had a 'conflict of interest' and so she did not attend the meeting. But, it was heard that there was a discussion via a WhatsApp group afterwards in which Cllr Bell was involved - and she drafted a statement on the application on behalf of the council. After the meeting, Hursley parish council submitted an objection to the proposal. They said it would 'directly impact the amenity of six other properties' and advised the city council to refuse it. It was said that much of the objection included details from a planning consultant's letter produced on Cllr Bell's personal behalf. WCC since granted permission for the extension in July. It was after Mr and Mrs Budge submitted a Freedom of Information request to the parish council, enabling them to find evidence of the WhatsApp discussion. Cllr Bell - who was elected as a Lib Dem mayor of Winchester in 2019 - was accused of 'improperly' influencing the decision of the Parish Council by providing 'misleading information'. It was she who had drafted an objection letter on behalf of the council. The review stated that Cllr Bell acknowledged that in hindsight, she should have avoided participating in WhatsApp discussions and the drafting of a statement on behalf of the Parish Council. The Parish Clerk told the investigator that Cllr Bell was the council's 'lead on planning' due to her expertise. Monitoring Officer Gareth John carried out an investigation into the matter. He said: 'I do not consider that Cllr Bell dealt with the matters relating to [Mr and Mrs Budge's] planning application after the meeting fairly, appropriately and impartially as she pursued her own private interests rather than the public interest. 'I consider that Cllr Bell allowed other pressures, including her private interests but also the expectation from the Chairman to be involved and hence this meant that she did not pursue the interests of the Council's area and the good governance of the Council in a proper manner.' Mr John said the 'whole approach to decision making after the meeting using WhatsApp was poor governance and lacked openness and transparency'. He added: 'WhatsApp is a place to chat but not to resolve items of business. 'The purported decision outside the meeting framework was a serious governance issue. Decisions must be made lawfully. 'The decision to object was not made at a lawful meeting of the Council, but outside the legal framework and without the necessary transparency the law requires.' He said that Cllr bell should 'not have involved herself' after the meeting and criticised the chairman for not being 'clear and robust' on preventing this. Mr John added: 'She used, or attempted to use, her public office for personal gain by seeking support to further her own private interests of opposing the planning application through her position as a councillor.'
