Alterations and reconstruction of barn to provide living accommodation (comprising amendments to approved PA 06/02040B)

Refusal Reasons

• ✗The Strategic Plan promotes sustainable development principally in existing settlements, encompassed in the Strategic Aim, Strategic Policies 1c, 2 and 10, Spatial Policy 5 and Housing Policy 4 and also protects the countryside for its own sake as set out in environment Policies 1 and 2. The proposed development would be contrary to all of these policies inasmuch as it represents the erection of a new building in an undesignated and unsustainable area. Whilst the development is on the footprint of an existing barn, it does not involve the re-use or conversion of the existing fabric and as such fails to comply with Housing Policy 11.
• ✗Notwithstanding the above, the proposed new building does not replicate the existing or approved building insofar as it fails to retain some features of interest such as the external stone steps and variety of roof slopes and levels, adds some new features which are considered unsympathetic such as horizontally proportioned windows and large patio doors, metal railings and staircase and results in a proposal which would look like a new building rather than a sympathetically converted old building which would have been achieved through the conversion of the existing fabric.
• ✗The proposed building has the potential for an unneighbourly impact on The Scheillings through the introduction of a new door and external steps as the only means of access to the accommodation above the garage: this door would be uncomfortably close to the rear boundary of The Scheillings.