Barn extension and business at The Barn, Market Lavington, Devizes

What was proposed

The application sought a dormer extension and retrospective change of part of an agricultural barn to office, gym and dog grooming uses.

“PROPOSAL The application seeks consent for a dormer extension and a retrospective change of use of part of a barn approved for agricultural use (PL/2022/03066) to a home-work space, home gym and dog grooming business.”

“The barn gates as shown on the approved drawings for the barn were not erected but replaced with anthracite upvc doors and windows to the south and eastern elevation. The ground floor of this building has been separated by a partition wall into two areas for the dog grooming business…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a rural agricultural plot outside Market Lavington’s development limits, beside a dwelling and bounded by a public bridleway.

“SITE DESCRIPTION The site is located within a rural countryside location, outside of the Limits of Development of Market Lavington which is designated as a Local Service Centre within the Core Strategy. The application site is on a sloping hill that runs away from the road comprises an agricultural plot of land immediately adjacent to the residential dwelling, with access onto the highway of Spin Hill.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

Earlier permissions covered the agricultural barn, a dog grooming business, a dwelling, equestrian buildings, site works and other development.

“PL/2022/08221 - Proposed dog grooming business – Approved 13/04/2023”

“PL/2022/08220 – Construct a single storey timber stable block on a concrete base and a manure clamp – change of use to mixed agricultural and equestrian – Approved 13/04/2023”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding the proposal consistent with relevant policies and acceptable in principle, visually, for neighbours, highways and ecology.

“Highways Core Policy 60 Sustainable Transport supports the premise for development within sustainable locations. Core Policy 61 Transport and new development, amongst other criteria aims to ensure that the proposal is capable of being served by safe access to the highway network.”

“The proposal subject of this planning application is considered to comply with the relevant policies of the adopted local plan and there are no statutory consultee objections.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A person spoke against the application, two people spoke in support, and a councillor spoke for the parish council.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed the building’s history and use, rural landscape effects, the dormer, enforcement, the public footpath and rural business investment.

“The Local Unitary Member, Cllr Dominic Muns then spoke regarding the application. Cllr Muns raised the following points, which included but were not limited to the history of the site and applications that had been previously granted; with it suggested that following this the permitted building had never been used for agricultural purposes.”

“Cllr Muns also suggested that the dormer extension would result in the top floor windows moving up 80cm, therefore causing further harm to the landscape under CP51 and CP57 as the building would be visible from the near footpaths. It was also suggested that the application conflicted with CP48 as the building no longer supported rural life.”

Minutes