Councillors recommended to refuse colleague’s plans for new house

Council officers are recommending a planning committee rejects an application for a new house filed by a fellow councillor on the panel.

North Yorkshire Council’s Richmond area planning committee will debate plans submitted by Councillor Angus Thompson next week.

Cllr Thompson, who represents the North Richmondshire division, is usually a member of the committee, but will not be allowed to take part in the decision.

Council rules stipulate that applications by elected members must be decided by committee rather than officers to ensure transparency.

The councillor and his wife have submitted plans for a house and change of use of a paddock to domestic land at High Bank Farm, in Stapleton, south of Darlington.

A report prepared ahead of next Thursday’s meeting states that the house would be outside the development limits of Stapleton and would result in the creation of an isolated dwelling in the open countryside.

Planning officer Liam Timmins said the benefits of the application were that it would lead to a self-built property which would contribute towards the housing supply in the area.

But added: “The following significant adverse impacts outweigh these benefits and as such permission should be refused: the application site is in unsuitable location; encroachment into the open countryside; ecological impacts and arboricultural impact.

“The proposed dwelling, by virtue of its isolated siting within the open countryside and its position beyond a clear and defensible landscape boundary, would result in an intrusive form of development that fails to respect the established rural character of the area.

“The development would therefore harm the local landscape character and appearance.”

No objections were received from local residents or the parish council.

Last year, Cllr Thompson critivcised the council’s planning department saying residents deserved better than the “absolutely diabolical” service currently provided.