Agenda item

Proposal: New farm access track across field to new barn

Location: Toll House Farm, Farm Land Adjacent To Mill House, Bourne Road, Folkingham, NG34 0HA

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions

Proposal: New farm access track across field to new barn

Location: Toll House Farm, Farm Land Adjacent To Mill House, Bourne Road, Folkingham, NG34 0HA

Recommendation: To authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions

Noting comments in the public speaking session by:

District Ward Councillor                    Cllr Murray Turner

Together with:

·       Provisions within SKDC Local Plan 2011-2036 and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

·       Comments received from Folkingham Parish Council.

·       Comments received from Lincolnshire County Council (Highways & SuDS).

·       Comments received from National Gas Transmission.

·       Comments received from Heritage Lincolnshire.

The following comments were made by the public speakers:

The District Ward Councillor noted that both the County Councillor, the Parish Council, and 11 objectors had expressed the desire to find an alternative solution, labelling the current application as evasive.

During questions to public speaker, Members commented on the following:

·       Noting that the track had already been installed, the speaker queried whether the width of the track was excessive for the stated purpose. A Member suggested that the width of the track had been to allow for wider trailers and transporting equipment.

During questions to officers and debate, Members commented on the following:

·       It was confirmed that the barn had been used for agricultural uses only.

·       A Member expressed frustration that the individual had not sought planning permission before building the track.

·       It was noted that the track could be seen from Folkingham market square.

·       It was queried whether the applicant had offered to reduce the width of the track in order to secure planning permission. The Planning Officer confirmed that there had been an email thread where this had been suggested but this was not an amendment within the application.

·       It was suggested that a landscaping condition was included, should the application be approved, that replacement hedge rows would be installed at the entrance to the track subject to consideration by the relevant professional. A Member did suggest that this would impair visibility. It was agreed that the location of any replacement landscaping/hedging would be with the recommendation of officers who would take such matters into account.

Final decision

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED to authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to GRANT planning permission, subject to conditions:

Approved Plans

1          The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following list of approved plans:

i.         TOLL HOUSE FARM - FARM TRACK LAYOUT 001 – received 09/02/26

ii.        TOLL HOUSE FARM - FARM TRACK LAYOUT 002  - received 09/02/26

iii.   LOCATION PLAN – received 18/12/25

Unless otherwise required by another condition of this consent.

Reason: To define the permission and for the avoidance of doubt.

During Building Works

2.       No development hereby permitted shall commence until a written scheme of archaeological investigation has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Thereafter, the proposed archaeological investigations shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Written Scheme of Investigation before works are re-commenced.

Reason: In order to provide a reasonable opportunity to record the history of the site and in accordance with Policy EN6 of the adopted South Kesteven Local Plan and Paragraph 199 of the NPPF

3.       Before any further works are commenced, details of any soft landscaping works shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Details shall include:

i.  planting plans;

ii. written specifications (including cultivation and other operations associated with plant and grass establishment);

 iii. schedules of plants, noting species, plant sizes and proposed numbers/densities where appropriate;

 Reason: Soft landscaping and tree planting make an important contribution to the development and its assimilation with its surroundings and in accordance with Policies DE1 and EN1 of the adopted South Kesteven Local Plan.

4. Before the end of the first planting/seeding season following the first use of any part of the development hereby permitted, all soft landscaping works shall have been carried out in accordance with the approved soft landscaping details.

Reason: Soft landscaping and tree planting make an important contribution to the development and its assimilation with its surroundings and in accordance with Policies DE1 and EN1 of the adopted South Kesteven Local Plan.