The application site is situated within a private garden which does not comprise an area of established woodland or forest. Consequently the construction of a log cabin in this location would appear as permanent, incongruous development within a domestic garden which would be detrimental to the character and appearance of this part of the North York Moors National Park where conservation of the special qualities take priority. The development would therefore be contrary to Development Policy 16 of the Local Development Framework which only allows for such development within areas of established woodland.
The application site lies within Flood Zone 3, defined by Planning Policy Statement 25 as having a high probability of flooding. Insufficient justification has been submitted to demonstrate that the cabin would not be liable to suffer flood damage, not acerbate flooding elsewhere, that steps are in place to provide occupiers with a satisfactory means of escape in the event of flooding and that the development would not exacerbate flooding events by increasing the amount of hardstanding at the site. As such the proposal would be contrary to Development Policy 2 of the NYM Local Development Framework wherein developments are required to satisfactory deal with flooding issues.
If approved the development would encourage other applications for the establishment of holiday chalets and tourist accommodation within the garden areas of existing residential properties in the National Park. Such accommodation would lead to a change in the character and appearance of residential curtilages and introduce a level and form of tourist activity which would be inappropriate within the gardens of existing private dwellings and contrary to NYM Development Policy 16.