The Isles of Scilly Council's Full Council met on 15 April 2025 and approved the disposal of plots 19 & 20 at Porthmellon Industrial Estate and delegated to the Chief Planning Officer the granting of planning permission for land north of Ennor Farm, pending a response from Natural England. The council also received a report on transport monitoring.

Planning Application: Land North of Ennor Farm

The council considered a planning application for a temporary change of use of land to the north of Ennor Farm, Old Town, St Mary's for six months. The plan is to use the land as a site for 24 portable single sleeper units for contractors working on the Integrated Health and Social Care Facility project.

The Development Management Lead, South Downs National Park Authority, Stella New, presented the report, recommending that planning permission be granted.

The application site is located within the Isles of Scilly National Landscape and Heritage Coast and falls within the Isles of Scilly Conservation Area. It's within the settlement boundary and allocated under policy H3 for ‘around 15 homes’ and is subject to outline planning permission P/21/002/OUT for 12 detached and semi-detached self-build homes.

The report noted that Natural England required further information to determine impacts on designated sites, specifically regarding potential pollution prevention measures.

The report concluded that the development would provide public benefits that outweighed any visual harm, and that the proposal complied with the relevant policies of the Isles of Scilly Local Plan (2015-30) and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).

The council delegated to the Chief Planning Officer the granting of planning permission, pending a no objection response from Natural England, and subject to the conditions set out in Appendix A of the P-25-010 Committee Report.

Disposal of Plots 19 & 20 Porthmellon Industrial Estate

The council considered a report regarding the proposed disposal of Plots 19 & 20, Porthmellon Industrial Estate. The Housing Delivery and Strategic Asset Management author, Olivia Charman, recommended that the council approve the disposal of the plots for £40,600 and initiate the sales process.

The property comprises two plots with access off Telegraph Road. The existing tenant has approached the council seeking to purchase the site. The proposal is for the disposal of the land only, as the buildings on the land are owned by the existing tenant.

The report noted that the Financial Regulatory Framework requires any disposal of land valued at more than £20,000 to be considered by the council and best consideration achieved for those assets. The Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) sets out the framework within which the council can manage its assets.

The report stated that the current rental value for the land is £1,980 per annum, and the tenant has offered the asking price of £40,600.

The council approved the disposal of Plots 19 & 20, Porthmellon Industrial Estate for £40,600 and initiation of the sales process in accordance with the council’s Acquisition and Disposals Policy, as detailed in the Disposal of site Plots 1920 report.

Transport Monitoring

The council received a report on transport monitoring, with the Isles of Scilly Transport Links - Service Monitoring Report to Full Council 15.04.25 FINAL attached.

This followed a question at the previous meeting from Councillor Dan Marcus, Lead Member for Planning and Regulatory Services & Chairman of Governance Committee, who had asked for an update on the reports promised to the council in the plan approved in October, specifically regarding transport volumes.

The Chief Executive, Russell Ashman, explained that one of the transport operators had challenged the publication of the figures, citing commercial sensitivity. He added that this assertion was being challenged, but a report would be brought to the April meeting featuring as much information as possible.

The SUPPLEMENT PACK A - TRANSPORT MONITORING 15th-Apr-2025 09.30 FULL COUNCIL contained the Isles of Scilly Transport Links - Service Monitoring Report to Full Council 15.04.25 FINAL and the Appendix Isles of Scilly Transport Links - Service Monitoring Report April 2024 to March 2025 Versio.