Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Change of use and conversion of barn to provide one 4-bed dwelling including two front extensions and one rear extension, hip to gable roof extension, alterations to openings, and installation of solar panels (amended by plans received on 29/06/23 and 30/06/23).

RESOLVED: That application 23/00334/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.  

 

Audio recording – 35 minutes 17 seconds

 

The Senior Planning Officer provided updates:

 

·       The report should state ‘planning application’ rather than ‘pre-application request’ at the end of the last sentence of paragraph 4.1.1.

·       The County Councils Highway Officer had stated in a response from March 2023 that they do not wish to restrict the grant of permission and that this would be added as paragraph 3.8.

 

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 23/00334/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

 

The following Members asked points of clarification:

 

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

·       Councillor Louise Peace

 

In response to the points of clarification, the Senior Planning Officer stated that:

 

·       The original planning application which was granted back in 2022 had been approved by the Parish Council, but that there was an objection to this application.

·       The bin stores were clearly marked on the plans as a black rectangle.

·       This new application had added a workshop and store to the front extension which brought it closer to Church Farm.

 

The Chair invited Ms Rosalind Murray to speak against the application. Ms Murray thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation including that:

 

·       The plans were not sensitive to have a building of this size in a conservation area.

·       The barn was agricultural in its original use.

·       The new extension was very close to Church Farmhouse.

·       The solar panels were clearly visible from the public highway and this caused an infringement on the conservation area.

·       The inclusion of a glazed window added an urban note which was not in keeping with a conservation area.

·       The plans were not sympathetic and did not preserve or enhance the conservation area.

 

The Chair thanked Ms Murray for her presentation and invited Mr Kendall Cordes to speak against the application. Mr Cordes thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation including that:

 

·       He lived at Church Farm, the property next door to the planning application.

·       The solar panels would be very high and prominent, which would make them visible as you drove through the village.

·       The barn was opposite a Grade 2 listed church and this planning application would not preserve or enhance the character of the village.

·       The solar panels should be positioned out of view.

·       The new extension had narrowed the distance to the width of a small gate from Church Farm.

·       The workshop doors would obstruct the access of next door.

 

In response to a point of clarification from Councillor David Levett, Mr Cordes confirmed that the white building next to Church Farm was part of his house.

 

The Chair thanked Mr Cordes for his presentation and invited Councillor Claire Strong to speak against the application as Member Advocate. Councillor Strong thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation including that:

 

·       She had called this application in support of Lilley Parish Council and the neighbours.

·       The original application had been agreed, but this application should be considered as a new application rather than an amended one.

·       There was a Grade 2 listed farmhouse and church nearby and these barns were not in a good state and required a rebuild rather than a conversion.

·       The solar panels were very visible and were not in keeping with a conservation area and would have an impact on the heritage buildings nearby.

·       The Committee should consider the material impact of the revised plan and what the residents would have to live with if this application was approved.

 

The Chair thanked Councillor Strong for her presentation and invited Mr David Parry to speak as a support of the application. Mr Parry thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation including that:

 

·       This application was designed of a very high standard of sustainability and energy efficiency.

·       The revised scheme was smaller than the original application and was  more in line with the original agricultural use with a farmyard layout.

·       The original large by fold doors on the original scheme had been removed.

·       The materials used reflect the agricultural outbuildings.

·       The glazed window was in a bathroom of the property and faced northwest from the property.

·       The white building adjacent to the boundary with an asbestos roof was only attached to the historic building and not part of the original barn.

·       The solar panels used were discussed with the conservation team and were level with and formed part of the roof covering.

·       No visible frames or geometric patterns had been used on the solar panels to enable them to blend in with the roof.

 

The following Members asked points of clarification:

 

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

·       Councillor Simon Bloxham

·       Councillor Val Bryant

 

In response to the points of clarification, Mr Parry stated that:

 

·       The shared access area was shared between both properties and could be kept as such with no conflict to all parties.

·       The roof that the solar panels would be going on was largely an asbestos roof with some original slate on the higher part.

 

In response to the points of clarification, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:

 

·       The Conservation Officer had not objected to this proposal, including the proposed solar panels and the distance from Church Farm.

·       The solar panels complied with legislation and would be fitted on to the front roof the existing barn and dwelling approved last year.

·       The doors to the store opened onto a very small part of the driveway and would not be detrimental to the occupants of Church Farm, as noted in point 4.3.15 of the report.

·       The 2022 planning application was slightly larger than this application in terms of floor space and this application compared quite favourably to that one.

·       Solar panels could be put on a roof of a non-domestic building with planning application.  

 

The Chair thanked Mr Parry for his presentation.

 

Councillor David Levett advised that although this application was not quite in keeping with the character of the area, he did not feel the harm posed outweighed the advantages.

 

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Sean Nolan seconded and, following a vote, it was

 

RESOLVED: That application 23/00334/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.