H13

Housing Policy 13

Housing Policy 13: In the case of those rural dwellings which have lost their former residential use by abandonment, consideration will be given in the following circumstances to the formation of a dwelling by use of the remaining fabric and the addition of new fabric to replace that which has been lost.

Where:

1. the building is substantially intact; this will involve there being at least three of the walls, standing up to eaves level and structurally capable of being retained; and
2. there is an existing, usable track from the highway; and where
3. a supply of fresh potable water and of electricity can be made available from existing services within the highway.

(1) Habitable Status is defined in Appendix 1

(2) Non residential use is defined in Appendix 1

This policy will not apply in National Heritage Areas (see Environment Policy 6). Permission will not be given for the use of buildings more ruinous than those in (a) above, or for the erection of replacement buildings. Extensions of dwellings formed in accordance with the above may be permitted if the extension is clearly subordinate to the original building (i.e. in terms of floor space(3) measured externally, the extension measures less than 50% of that of the original).

8.11.2 It is important that replacement dwellings should relate closely to the buildings they replace in terms of siting and size, that the resulting visual impact is appropriate for the countryside, and that existing stone and slate are re-used.