Council permits traveller accommodation near Chester despite local objections
Cheshire West and Chester planners have given permission for traveller accommodation on land to the east of Sunny View in Dunkirk, on the outskirts of Chester, but attached a series of restrictions intended to manage impacts on the surrounding area.
The application was called in by ward councillor Peter Wheeler, who raised concerns including traffic congestion, change to the character and appearance of the area, flooding, light pollution, biodiversity impacts, safety relating to nearby oil and gas pipelines, and privacy. Despite those objections, planning officer Coco Sheung recommended approval, subject to 10 conditions.
- Occupation to be restricted to travellers;
- Submission and implementation of bat and bird box details;
- Soft landscaping plan to be submitted and carried out;
- Cycle and car parking provision to be retained;
- Other specific conditions to address layout and management of the site.
In the officers decision report, Ms Sheung drew attention to human rights and equalities considerations. She highlighted that the Human Rights Act protects the right to respect for private and family life and the cultural traditions associated with the Gypsy/Traveller way of life, and noted the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010.
"Article 8 affords the right to respect for private and family life and home, including the traditions and culture associated with the Gypsy/Traveller way of life and the best interests of the children."
Ms Sheung also recorded concerns about noise. The report says it has not been demonstrated that the caravans meet relevant noise standards and therefore the proposal could have a "significant adverse impact" on future occupiers, a harm the officer gave "significant negative weight" in the planning balance.
Balancing that harm, the officer determined the scale of the development would not be disproportionate to the settlement and would not materially affect the character of the area. The report found the development acceptable in terms of highway safety, biodiversity, drainage and flood risk, describing those matters as neutral in the planning balance. The decision therefore weighed those neutral and positive factors alongside the recognised harms and the human rights and equality obligations.
What the conditions require
| Condition area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Restricted to travellers |
| Ecology | Bat/bird boxes details and soft landscaping |
| Parking | Cycle parking and car parking to be retained |
The approval is likely to prompt interest locally from residents and councillors concerned about congestion, environmental impacts and safety near infrastructure. The council report makes clear planners considered a range of planning tests including human rights and equalities duties before reaching their recommendation.
Residents seeking further information on the decision can consult the councils planning portal for the full officer report and the list of the 10 conditions attached to the permission.
