PLANS for a self-storage facility with 52 containers in Merthyr Tydfil have been put on hold.
The plan for 52 steel storage containers at Oakland Business Park, Bogey Road, Mountain Hare, was deferred by the council’s planning committee on Wednesday, July 8.
Clive Jones proposed the deferral to the next available committee with the request that the applicant and objector attend.
Each container would be 6m long by 2.4m wide, standing 2.5m high, and be green in colour.
In total 45 containers would be positioned so that they back on to the northern, southern, and western boundaries of the site with seven of the containers placed centrally.
The site will be entirely surfaced with tarmacadam to allow vehicles to circulate within the site.
The existing 2m high weld mesh fence will be extended around the entire perimeter of the site.
Access to the proposed development will remain unaltered with a gated entrance in the north-west corner.
A total of 22 trees, comprising a mixture of five tree species, will be planted along the southern embankment together with a series of shrub species.
There will also be bird boxes along the southern boundary to the rear of the storage container.
The application was recommended for approval by council planning officers.
But Cllr David Jones requested the application be presented to the planning committee for determination to consider concerns in respect of unauthorised works that have taken place on site including the removal of trees from an ancient woodland, depositing of rubble, and other materials on the site and material being tipped into a local watercourse.
There was also one letter of objection submitted during the public consultation on the application.
At the committee meeting on Wednesday, July 8, Cllr Jones read out a letter on behalf of a resident which said they wanted to object to the application not because they oppose all development on the site but because they do not believe the committee has sufficient information to be satisfied that the proposal fully complies with the council’s policies relating to biodiversity, landscape protection, and sustainable development.
The main concern the resident raised was that the application appears to assess the site as it exists today rather than properly considering the environmental baseline that existed before the unauthorised clearance and site works took place.
The resident said local people have witnessed the removal of trees and vegetation that previously provided natural screening and habitat connectivity between the site, the surrounding countryside, and the adjacent ancient woodland.
They added the site has been the subject of biodiversity initiatives including supporting hedgehog conservation and installing awareness signs which demonstrates the area is recognised as contributing to local biodiversity objectives and forms part of a wider ecological network.
They said that the site adjoins protected ancient woodlands and lies within the Merthyr Tydfil landscape of outstanding historic interest adding these are sensitive environmental designations that warrant careful consideration.
They said while the planting and bird boxes are welcome they are not convinced sufficient information has been provided to establish what habitat value existed before the recent clearance works, whether ecological connectivity has been reduced, whether any biodiversity losses have been properly quantified, and whether the proposed mitigation is proportionate to any impacts that may already have occurred.
Another concern was around landscape impact and the resident mentioned that the planning report places considerable weight on historic planning permissions and concludes that the principle of commercial development has already been established.
They acknowledged that planning history is a material consideration but said the committee must consider the application set before it in the context of current policy, current site conditions, and current environmental duties.
They said the character of the area had changed significantly after vegetation clearance and earth works and that the loss of established screening has affected both the visual appearance of the site and its relationship with the surrounding countryside.
Other concerns mentioned unauthorised tipping of materials on the site as well as sustainable drainage systems.
But planning officers said that “despite the countryside location where industrial development may not always be appropriate the planning history supports the use of the site to accommodate some form of commercial development”.
They added: “The design of the proposed development is functional and does have some impact on the landscape in the locality though not to an extent that is much greater than that which already exists.
“The development would provide an opportunity to improve the quality and appearance of the site.
“The landscaping proposed would help integrate and lessen the impact of the development within the wider countryside.
“The proposal would not give rise to adverse highway, ecology, or amenity impacts.”
