Plans submitted for small six-pitch Traveller site on field near Egmanton
Plans for a six-pitch Traveller site have been submitted for a field near a rural village.
The application, for land off Weston Road, Egmanton, seeks permission for a change of use of the land for residential use, comprising six pitches, each with a static caravan, tourer, and day room.
A group of six families have submitted the application to Newark and Sherwood District Council, and would each occupy a pitch on the site.
The land is currently used as an arable field, and previously had permission granted for horse stables in 2008 — although the permission lapsed without the stables being built.
It is classed as being in open countryside, and is opposite a solar farm development, around a mile from the village of Egmanton.
The small day room on each pitch would allow for additional bathroom and kitchen facilities and ‘daily amenity’, while each static caravan will have a kitchen and living space, and two bedrooms.
Planning documents state the families’ touring caravans would only leave the site infrequently for work and family and cultural events, and would not be coming and going on a daily basis.
An ecological appraisal of the site noted the proposed development will result in the loss of some neutral grassland, native hedgerow and scattered trees, but was not likely to have an impact on any notable habitats.
Landscaping is planned for the site, which is proposed to result in a gain of habitats and hedgerows above the required 10% biodiversity gain metric.
Additional trees would be planted, two native hedgerows retained, and two additional native hedgerows planted.
Planning documents stated: “It is considered that this site, with mitigation, can provide a safe, well screened site which provides a base six families in need of accommodation in the district.”
The site does not have any connection to the nearby development of 40 pitches on a field off Weston Road which was undertaken without prior planning approval.
Newark and Sherwood District Council will make the final decision on plans at a later date.
