Proposed conversion of a dutch barn to provide a dwelling with annexed holiday accommodation.

The application was approved contrary to the Case Officer’s recommendation.

(Proposed conversion of a dutch barn to provide a dwelling with annexed holiday accommodation.)

The Principal Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application, and updates/additional representations received following the publication of the agenda were provided in the update sheet, as appended to these Minutes.  He reported that one additional letter of support had been received.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking, Mr W Mears, of Kimbolton Parish Council spoke in support of the Scheme.  Mr M Duggan, the applicant’s son, spoke in support.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the local ward member, Councillor J Stone, spoke on the application.

He made the following principal comments:

·        The application was a modest and well designed proposal.   It would contribute to the housing growth expected in the Parish in accordance with the Core Strategy and to tourism in accordance with policy E4.

·        The Parish Council supported the proposal.  There were 26 letters of support and no letters of objection.

·        There were no objections from the internal consultees with the exception of the Conservation Manager (Historic Buildings).  The local ward member cited a publication by the Leominster Historical Society which suggested, contrary to that officer’s view, that there was historic merit in the barn in question.  The proposed conversion of the barn was sympathetic.

·        The proposal was sustainable in accordance with policy RA2, being less than 10 minutes walk from the centre of the village. 

·        The applicant’s family had resided in Kimbolton for generations and was part of the local community.  In addition to providing accommodation for the family, the proposal would increase the security of the current farming enterprise.

In the Committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        The Parish Council supported the proposal and there were also letters of support from local residents.

·        The application met a local need and preserved the barn.

·        The officer’s recommendation that the application should be refused might be a strictly correct interpretation of the letter of the relevant policies but it was not pragmatic.

·        Some Members considered the proposal complied with policies RA2 and RA4. Others questioned whether the proposal was in fact a conversion of a building and whether it was therefore in accordance with policy RA5, and also expressed doubt as to whether it was intended to provide key workers’ accommodation and was therefore in accordance with policy RA4.

The local ward member was given the opportunity to close the debate.  He reiterated his support for the application.

The legal representative confirmed the legal definition of a building and that the barn fell within that description.

The Development Manager commented that the proposal created structures outside the fabric of the building and was not a conversion.  It was not adjacent to the main settlement of Kimbolton and therefore did not comply with policy RA2.  Policies RA3 and RA5 were relevant.  No case had been made in the application to there being an agricultural need for the proposed dwelling. The proposal had to be considered as an application for development in the open countryside of one holiday unit and one dwelling for family use only.

RESOLVED: That officers named in the Scheme of Delegation to officers be authorised to grant planning permission subject to conditions considered necessary.