Barn conversion to home at East Trewarlett Farm, Lezant, Launceston

What was proposed

The application sought to convert part of an existing barn into a two-bedroom dwelling with associated works.

“This application is for the conversion of part of an existing barn building into a 2 bedroom dwelling. The site comprises one half of a field that has been subdivided. The barn sits at the end of a long drive. When it was originally approved it was indicated that the land was used for growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables and for keeping a small number of animals. The…”

Officer report

The site and building

The barn is at the end of a long drive on part of a subdivided field and was approved for agricultural storage and animal shelter.

“Information Classification: PUBLIC building was approved on the basis that it was to be used for storage of a tractor and topper, attachments, mowers, animal feed and to be used as shelter for animals in relation to the use of the land. 7. Another shed and polytunnel was approved on the neighbouring land, outside of this application site, for similar reasons. 8. The applicant has placed a caravan on the site, adjacent to this building and has been living in it.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions and enforcement

A storage shed was approved in 2021, and an enforcement notice required removal of a caravan placed beside the barn.

“For this site: PA20/07441 - Proposed General Purpose Shed – Approved – 17/05/2021 For adjacent site to the south: PA19/05693 - Polytunnel and General Purpose Shed – Approved – 10/10/2019”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The parish council and highways raised no objections, while the Electoral Division Member supported the proposal as beneficial reuse and new housing.

“Electoral Division Member Adrian Parsons (10 July 2026) Policy 7: Housing in the Countryside provides for the development of new homes in the open countryside may be permitted where special circumstances apply. In this case, the proposal represents the beneficial reuse and enhancement of a redundant agricultural building, bringing it back into productive use and improving its immediate setting.”

Officer report

Support and objection

Supporters cited housing provision, no effect on neighbours and limited visual change; an objector raised concerns about unauthorised development and compliance.

“Received in Support: • This would provide housing without the Council needing to. • There will be no impact on neighbours. • The building already exists and there will therefore be no visual changes.”

“Received in Objection: This application is an attempt to retrospectively legitimise unauthorised residential development that has already been deemed harmful. Any future permission or conditions may not be complied with.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant spoke in support, and the Electoral Division Member said the home would be modest and landscape effects minimal.

What members debated

Members discussed space standards, limited external change, domestic effects, housing for the family and whether planning reasons supported approval or refusal.

“A full and detailed debate ensued, the main points of which were noted as follows:-”

“Reference was made to the Accommodation Space and Amenity Guidance Standards which, if applied to this application, would not be met. It was clarified that these standards are for guidance only; 2. It was difficult to find valid planning policy reasons to justify approval of the application; 3. The proposal would only minimally change the external appearance, therefore the perceived harm to the landscape was considered to be insubstantial; 4.”

Minutes

The committee vote

Members voted by eight votes to one, with no abstentions, to approve the application subject to conditions.

“Arising from consideration of the report and debate it was moved by Councillor Moorcroft, seconded by Councillor Pascoe, and on a vote of 8 votes in favour, 1 against and no abstentions it was:-”

“RESOLVED that Application No. PA26/02309 be approved subject to the following conditions:-”

Minutes

What was decided

The committee approved the barn conversion subject to conditions controlling commencement, plans, permitted development, lighting and ecological measures.

“No external lighting shall be installed at the application site unless details of the proposed lighting scheme, including the location, design, specification, intensity, and measures to minimise light spill, have first been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The external lighting shall thereafter be installed and maintained in accordance with the approved details.”

“The development hereby permitted shall be undertaken in accordance with the ecological mitigation and enhancement measures detailed at Section 1.2 of the report entitled ‘Bat and Barn Owl Survey Barn at East Trewarlett Farm, Lezant’ dated March 2026 and undertaken by Lee Ecology. The development shall be completed in accordance with the details hereby approved.”

Minutes

Why the committee approved it

The proposer said the scheme suitably reused part of an existing building and its limited landscape harm was outweighed by providing another home.

“The reasons given by the Proposer for wishing to approve the application were that the proposal represented a suitable re-use of part of an existing building and that the limited landscape and visual harm would be outweighed by the benefits of providing an additional home in accordance with Policy 7 of the Cornwall Local Plan and Policy HO11 of the NPPF.”

Minutes