Site for Motor Vehicle sales approved in North Somerset
CSJ Planning Consultants has recently secured planning permission for the change of use of a site in the open countryside to motor vehicle sales. The site had a lengthy and complex planning history with part of it benefitting from a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use for vehicle dismantling and the recovery of scrap metal. An area of the site was also located in the functional floodplain. Whilst not strictly compliant with North Somerset Council’s local planning policies, CSJ Planning Consultants promoted the development on the basis that there were other ‘material considerations’ for allowing the scheme, specifically the benefits of eliminating an environmentally harmful and disruptive use within this rural location (see above photograph). The planning application put forward a robust case in support of the proposal, also offering the removal of unsightly boundary treatments and the planting of significant soft landscaping across the site to considerably improve the visual amenity of the site and its rural setting. During the application process CSJ Planning Consultants worked closely with North Somerset Council and the Environment Agency to overcome concerns relating to highway impact and flood risk. The proposals received the backing of Congresbury Parish Council and once implemented, will result in the removal of a highly intrusive operation and visually incongruous structures that have blotted this countryside setting for a considerable period of time.
