Agenda item - 21/0754/FUL and 21/01755/LBC - Change of use of farmhouse and attached barns to form holiday let accommodation with reinstatement roof works to the attached barns; change of use of detached barn to create dwelling house with single storey extension; creation of new access track and parking area to farmhouse and remediation and reinstatement works to dovecot - Stoney Lane Farm, Stoney Lane, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, B60 1LZ - Mr. P. Whittaker

Agenda item

21/0754/FUL and 21/01755/LBC - Change of use of farmhouse and attached barns to form holiday let accommodation with reinstatement roof works to the attached barns; change of use of detached barn to create dwelling house with single storey extension; creation of new access track and parking area to farmhouse and remediation and reinstatement works to dovecot - Stoney Lane Farm, Stoney Lane, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, B60 1LZ - Mr. P. Whittaker

Minutes:

Officers clarified that the Applications had been brought to the Planning Committee for consideration as the applicant was a Bromsgrove District Councillor. 

 

Officers reported that for consistency purposes in order to align with condition relating to Planning Application 21/01755/LBC, that Condition 1 on page 159 of the main agenda report, be amended to read 18 months and not 3 years, as detailed in the published Committee Update, copies of which were provided to Members and published on the Council’s website prior to the commencement of the meeting.

 

As highlighted at the commencement of the meeting, the Committee received a joint presentation and report for Planning Applications 21/01754/FUL and 21/01755/LBC, Stoney Lane Farm, Stoney Lane, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, B60 1LZ.

 

Officers presented the joint report and in doing so asked the Committee to note that planning permission and listed building consent was granted in February 2017 (ref 161028 and 161029) and that those previous permissions had now lapsed, and that this application was a resubmission of the previously approved schemes. 

 

However, it should also be noted that with regards to sustainability for the proposed residential dwelling when the original application was submitted in 2017 sustainability was not considered to be a major reason for refusal but with the recent policy changes this had now become a reason for refusal.

 

Stoney Lane Farm consisted of a group of buildings comprising a Grade II listed Georgian farmhouse, connected to a 18th century timber-framed barn, a single storey range of 19th century brick barns and a separate brick dovecote.  The site was located in the Green Belt.

 

It was proposed that the main farmhouse and adjoining barns would be converted and used for holiday lets, and the separate rear barns converted to form a single dwelling.  Members’ attention was drawn to the detailed proposed development information, as shown on page 147 of the main agenda report.

 

The dovecote would be restored including the reconstruction of its original pyramidal form roof and would be used a shared storage for Units 2 and 4. 

 

Officers stated that as detailed on page 150 of the main agenda report, that in terms of the access and parking arrangements, Members were asked to note that no new surfacing was proposed to serve either the access route or the parking area itself.  Having carefully considered this aspect of the scheme, officers were of the view that in the balancing exercise, that the access and parking proposals were integral to providing the designated heritage asset with a new use and ultimately a future.  An appropriate soft and hard landscaping scheme had accompanied the scheme that had been sensitively designed to reduce the impact of this aspect of the scheme.

 

Officers concluded that the substantial weight given to the harm arising from inappropriate development and its effect on the openness of the Green Belt was clearly outweighed by the benefits identified within the main agenda report.

 

The scheme raised no issues affecting highway safety, residential amenity or flooding and would have no adverse impact on any identified protected species.

 

The Conservation Officer had raised no objections.

 

The Committee then considered both Applications, which officers had recommended be approved.

 

Members commented that they welcomed the applications it would tidy up the dilapidated buildings. 

 

Officers responded to suggested conditions from the Committee in respect of cycle parking/storage provision and electric charging points; and in doing so highlighted that with regards to electric charging points, that the site consisted of a group buildings which included Listed Buildings and that it would be difficult to try to satisfactorily incorporate electric charging points outside the curtilage of a Listed Building and that the Conservation Officer would raise concerns. It was also highlighted that any cycle storage facilities would have to meet the standards set by Worcestershire County Council, whereby cycle storage racks had to be covered storage and that could also raise some concern from the Conservation Officer.   

 

Officers further responded to questions from Members with regard to the existing track currently serving Stoney Lane Cottages being widened. 

 

Officers further clarified that should Members still be concerned about cycle parking/storage; that an Informative could be included, that the applicant look into the possibility of cycle parking/storage facilities.

 

RESOLVED that

 

a)    full Planning Permission for Planning Application 21/01754/FUL be granted, subject to the Conditions as detailed on pages 154 to 158 of the main agenda report;

 

and

 

b)    Listed Building Consent be granted for Planning Application 21/01755/LBC, subject to the Conditions as detailed on page 159 of the main agenda report, with Condition 1 being amended from 3 years to 18 months, as detailed on page 2 of the Committee Update.

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