Burniston Nurseries’ plan for catering van blocked by council
A coastal plant nursery’s proposal for a mobile catering van has been blocked by North Yorkshire Council.
Burniston Nurseries’ application for a ‘lawful certificate’ for a small catering van on its site has been refused by the council.
The proposed van would have provided refreshments within the existing garden centre’s premises on a seasonal basis.
“The van would serve hot and cold drinks, such as tea, coffee, and soft drinks, and light food such as sandwiches, cakes, and snacks, while operating hours would match the garden centre’s trading hours,” plans stated.
The applicant said that the catering van would be a freestanding unit which would “not be permanently fixed to the ground but would connect to the main building through a standard outdoor electrical supply for power”.
However, planning officers said that “while the size of the van may not be considerable […] the resulting structure would be considered a building” under planning law.
Planners also raised questions about the “temporary” basis on which the catering van would operate on the site.
A report notes: “The applicant states that the van would be operated on a seasonal basis, from early March until the end of September.
“The garden centre closes from October until February, hence the catering van would not be in operation during these months.
"However, the van would stay on site during closing time.”
Officers said that the proposed catering unit “would exhibit a high degree of permanence” as the structure “would be in place continuously and in use for seven, in every 12-month period, some 58 per cent of each year”.
North Yorkshire Council concluded that “a certificate of lawful use or development cannot be issued” and refused the application on Monday, December 1.