Council / Councillors overturn planning refusal for house and agricultural shed
COUNCILLORS have overturned a refusal of planning permission in principle for a new house and an agricultural shed in Tingwall which would see a family croft continue for years to come.
Shetland Islands Council’s planning service had previously turned down planning permission in principle for the three bedroom house and 12m x 18m shed, prompting an appeal from the applicant.
But Shetland Central councillor Catherine Hughson told Monday’s meeting of the planning committee that it would be “remiss” of elected members not to grant the appeal.
The proposed house would be sited west of the A970 opposite the car parking area at the junction shortly after the Tingwall straight, if driving towards Lerwick.
The meeting heard the applicant’s granddaughter would work the land there, continuing a family croft and furthering her agricultural career.
But the planning service felt the proposal did not comply with a number of local planning policies.
This included it being an “isolated site that, if developed, would not fit well with the existing settlement pattern of the area”.
The planning decision report said the closest residential dwelling to the site is located over 200 metres to the north east on the opposite side of the main A970 public road.
“The proposal is therefore considered to be contrary to the SLDP [Shetland Local Development Plan] policy H3’s aim of directing development to the most appropriate areas for residential development, and as it would therefore also not enhance the viability or vitality of neighbouring settlements it is contrary to SLDP policy GP1,” he added.
The decision note said as it would be isolated from neighbouring inhabited development, including by the A970 road, “the location does not respect the character and local distinctiveness of its surroundings”.
Agent Ross Work said there was a two storey house on the land until the 1970s, and added that there was already water supply there, which is a brownfield site.
An appeal document said: “It would bring back part of a former settlement which was part of the landscape for many years, continue as active role in Tingwall community and Swinister Farm for future generations of the client’s family.”
Hughson said rejecting the application would go against policy principles set out in the council’s Our Ambition document.
She said it states “we must encourage people to come, live, work and stay in Shetland”.
Hughson also questioned the use of the term “isolated” – saying her own property is around two miles down a single track road.
She said the proposed Tingwall house would be much nearer the main A970 road.
“I think we would be doing a real disservice if we refuse this application,” Hughson said.
Fellow Shetland Central member said it was “far from being an isolated development – it’s right next to the main road”.
Meanwhile Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale Community Council was criticised at Monday’s meeting by the agent of a proposed housing development in Nesbister.
Councillors approved plans for a home at the end of the road at Nesbister – a development which was supported by the council’s planning department.
It only came to the committee because of an objection from Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale Community Council.
They felt it could set a “precedent for the expansion of development at Nesbister” south towards the historic bod there.
It said the Nesbister Bod is “one of Shetland’s most picturesque points and is part of the National Scenic Area”.
The meeting heard from agent Cecil Eunson that the house would be located 350 metres away from the bod, which is used as basic self-catering accommodation.
The council’s planning officer Ritchie Gillies said he felt the proposed house would be a “sufficient distance from the bod”.
Eunson said there were no other objections or negative comments against the development, which would be located within 100 metres of existing houses.
He added: “For a rural community council, I would have expected a positive attitude to development.”
There was no debate among councillors, with the decision to grant planning permission quickly passed.
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