A FARMER is seeking planning consent to build a bungalow on Green Belt land at Warrington to provide accommodation for his wife, who is suffering from a rare condition likely to result in a range of disabilities.
But planning officers are recommending his application be rejected because personal circumstances, no matter how compelling, should rarely, if ever, be considered sufficient to outweigh Green Belt policy.
Members of the borough council’s planning committee are to visit the site at Cliff Lane Farm, Cartridge Lane, Grappenhall before reaching a decision on Mr John Cross’s application.
One issue troubling councillors is that the site is only a short distance from the Cartridge Lane site where a group of gypsy families won permission for a caravan site in the Green Belt.
A report to the committee says Mr Cross’s wife has been diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) – a condition which can necessitate the immediate attention of family members.
Her condition is expected to continue without improvement for the rest of her life, with a progressive loss of mobility expected.
Mr Cross has applied for consent for a three bedroom bungalow because of the need to accommodate himself and his wife separately, together with an overnight carer.
The existing farmhouse is not suitable for conversion because the ground floor is on a number of levels with internal steps and also has steps leading into the house.
Other farm buildings are also unsuitable for conversions and there is a sloping, cobbled yard with would present difficulties for a disabled person.
Planners say it is a working farmyard – part of a large, arable farm – and it would not be appropriate for a disabled person to interface with farming operations. There is also no opportunity to create a garden or amenity land for the new property.
Planning officers say although there are compelling personal circumstances, national guidance is that these should rarely, if ever, be considered to amount to the very special circumstances required to over-ride Green Belt policy.
A FARMER is seeking planning consent to build a bungalow on Green Belt
land near Warrington to provide accommodation for his wife, who is
suffering from a rare condition likely to result in a range of
disabilities.
Planners oppose home for disabled wife
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
10 Comments
Maybe Mr & Mrs Cross should become gypsies, they would soon get planning permission then. I’m sure they could cite some human rights legislation in order to get the bungalow built.
Seems that planning ahead plus not sponging off the council, is not a sensible thing to do.
Time these jobsworth’s joined the real world and got their heads out of the rules and regulations. They should be guidelines, NOT tablets of stone.
If Gypsies won the right for a caravan site in the green belt nearby, surely that sets a precedent, so the Crosses should be able to appeal on those grounds, or on human rights grounds. Their right to a family life, when presumably he is still a working farmer and unable to move, should make this case high priority. I hope they win.
Stop this world, I wanna get off!
Both the above comments sum up my feelings.
The planning department is continually showing itself devoid of competance. Shut it down and start again with people who have the necessary qualifications allied with common sense.
This miserable shower could allow the application then throw all the records away, it wouldn’t be the first time.
It is a tricky one though as if the planners allow this one they they could find it being cited to push them to allow other building on green belt land in the future. However, saying that like already said they did allow the gypsies to build and move onto the greenbelt nearby. It would be very sad if Mr & Mrs Cross were denied their hope of living together on their farm just because of planning law though and what will they do if they don’t get permission 🙁 I suspect that the planners/dev control may refuse so as not to pave the way for other similar applications themselves but with the knowledge that Mr & Mrs Cross could appeal and gain permission that way.
Planning officers can only recommend in line with national guidance. It is up to the councillors to show compassion, in full possession of the facts. Hopefully, they will
This is a case where we need compassionate elected Councillors to do the business. They should overturn this rediculas recommendation soonest.
In the grand scheme of things (I’m talking about the lifespan of building here), this is a relatively temporary problem which only arises due to particular personal circumstances – so to me a temporary solution seems appropriate.
Can the planners not grant permission for a temporary building – a Park home, the kind that are effectively a couple of static caravans side by side. Some of those run to 3 bedrooms and are often used as retirement homes by older people with mobility problems who are downsizing.
That way the consent could be conditional on Mr & Mrs Cross being resident in the property, the structure could be easily removed and the site returned to Green Belt when the day eventually comes that the Cross’s no longer require it.
For God’s sake leave these poor people alone and let them get on with it – do the Planning Department have a heart of stone (daft question?). Presumably it is on their own farm land, so what is the problem (other than bureaucratic / jobsworth). They need to get real human beings in the council!!