Self-build dwelling at Hill Farm Lasham Hill Lane, Lasham, Alton

Self-build house to replace a barn

The application was for a new self-build dwelling on the site of an existing barn next to a Grade II listed farmhouse at Lasham.

“The Chairman invited Tracy Farthing, Senior Planning Officer to introduce the report. The application was for the erection of a detached self-build dwelling following demolition of an existing barn, and was recommended for refusal. The site sat on the western edge of Lasham. The existing barn sat on the periphery of buildings around Hill Farm House, a Grade II listed building.”

Minutes

Officers recommended refusal

Officers concluded the new house would harm the setting of the listed farmhouse and the countryside, and recommended refusal.

“Its siting on the periphery of the existing cluster and on the edge of open countryside meant it would be visually prominent. The Conservation Officer had commented that whilst the existing barn was of no architectural merit or heritage merit, replacing it with this new dwelling would cause greater harm because it would undermine the role of the Grade II listed building as the historic nucleus of the cluster.”

“The tilted balance was not engaged due to heritage harm identified, giving a strong reason for refusal. However, notwithstanding the heritage harm, this proposal provided an alternate design to the extant permission so there was no benefit in terms of housing provision in any event. It was not a policy compliant scheme. The fallback conversion already delivered the benefit of a dwelling without the harm of a new build.”

Minutes

Applicant spoke in support

The applicant spoke in support of the application, and members were told personal circumstances were not a planning consideration.

Committee voted to refuse

The committee voted 7 to 1 to refuse the application, following the officers' recommendation.

“The Committee voted on the Officer’s recommendation for refusal of application EHDC-24-0053-FUL. Councillor Williams proposed the recommendation, and the motion was duly seconded by Councillor Schillemore. Following the vote, the recommendation was declared CARRIED, 7 Councillors voting FOR refusal, 1 Councillor voting AGAINST refusal and 0 Councillors ABSTAINING from voting.”

Minutes