Conversion of barn to private dwelling and garage (Amendments to approved 03/01783)

Refusal Reasons

• ✗The criteria for the conversion of redundant buildings in the countryside are clearly set out in Planning Circular 3/89. These cumulatively aim to preserve attractive buildings largely as they are and to prevent such buildings from being significantly changed either by alteration or extension or both. In this case, planning permission has already been sought and refused for a scheme which proposed extensions (PA 02/0362) albeit in a less traditional form than is now proposed. In this case the extensions are not for what could be classed as "essential facilities" and as such the proposal fails to comply with the provisions of the circular in this respect (paragraph 4).
• ✗In addition, the proposed additions change the appearance of the barn from a relatively simple rectangular barn with two lean-to extensions on each side, to a barn whose northern annex is now almost as tall as the main building and with a ridge line parallel to this and at a consistent height: the building is also to be significantly extended at the rear, thus contravening paragraph 4a of the Circular.