Agenda item

(21/01062/FULL1) - Luxted Farm, Luxted Road, Downe, Orpington, BR6 7JT

Decision:

PERMISSION

Minutes:

The proposed application was for a partial rebuild and restoration of a barn. It included the erection of dormer windows and fenestration alterations, including enlarged doors, glazed roof panels and alterations to windows. Change of use had been requested from an agricultural barn to a dwelling house with an integral garage. This was a part retrospective application in the Greenbelt and had been recommended for approval.

 

Oral representations in support of the application were heard at the meeting.

 

A written objection to the application from Cllr Jonathan Andrews was read out at the meeting as follows:

 

I am writing to you in your capacity as Chairman of Plans 3 as understand the above planning application will be discussed at Plans 3 tomorrow evening, having been called in by my ward predecessor Cllr Scoates. I wanted to write to confirm that I am also of the opinion that this application should be refused. I am unable to attend Plans 3 tomorrow as I am attending a local residents meeting in Pratts Bottom, but I would ask that the below written report be read out indicating my opposition to the application for the following reasons:

 

  • As noted in the report, the proposal (which is also stated to be “part-retrospective”, meaning work on this must have commenced without planning permission being sought) would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

 

  • Again, as noted in the report, the proposal “would have actual harm to [the Green Belt’s] openness impacting detrimentally on the character of the area and visual amenities of the Green Belt which are formed of its essential characteristics including its openness and its permanence” - not least given that the proposed building would be larger and of different design to the original barn and therefore will have a greater impact upon the Green Belt.

 

  • As the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) notes, inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in “very special circumstances” which require any potential harm to the Green Belt which would result from the proposal to be “clearly outweighed” by other considerations. This is clearly a high bar to pass and I do not consider that it is met in this case as no exemptions or exceptions would appear to apply.

 

Members, having considered the report, objections and representations, RESOLVED THAT PERMISSION BE GRANTED for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report of the Assistant Director, Planning. 

 

 

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Supporting documents: