Garden hope deferred by planners

A bid for permission to make agricultural land into a garden has been deferred for more clarity, including over a static ‘caravan’ being sited on it illegally.

The land is part of Seagate Farm in Long Sutton but the applicant wants to incorporate it to increase the size of the domestic garden of 184 Seagate Road.
The initial application also included a request for permission to keep a caravan on the site. Pictures with the application suggested it looks like a bungalow.
But the bid for retrospective permission for the structure was removed from the application before it came before South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee last week.
Members were only meant to rule on whether the farm land could be turned into a garden, with a condition proposed that the applicant couldn’t build any structures on the land.
The loss of farming land is contrary to planning laws, but officers suggested it was an acceptable request and recommended it be accepted.
But the committee expressed confusion over several aspects of the plans, including what any decision would mean for the ‘caravan’ even if it wasn’t now part of the application and would have to be subject to separate applications.
Planning officers also acknowledged the plan of the site presented to councillors in the report was not correct.
Coun Chris Brewis said: “There’s so many questions being raised.
“It’s so confusing, the very least we can expect is an accurate report and this isn’t accurate.”
Sharna Jackson, of agent Swan Edwards, told the meeting in support of the application: “The garden land associated with the dwelling is very small.
“The new garden would be of a size more reflective of the locality.”