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Application
No. WD/2007/3262/F - Amended
Location:
Old Hall Farm Barn, Burnt Oak Road High Hurstwood
Description:
Conversion & refurbishment of redundant barn for domestic use
Applicant:
Mr. & Mrs K A Barlow
Agent:
Stephen Langer Associates
The Council
maintains its objections to this application
for a barn conversion to a dwelling in High Hurstwood being a
village without development boundary in the High Weald Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposed application would be an
overdevelopment of the site given that there is now a new,
larger, main dwelling and the site already contains an oast
previously converted to a subsidiary dwelling. It is not
considered that the barn is a redundant agricultural building
given that the small holding is of some 16 acres in all and
there is little other accommodation for agricultural machinery,
storage, garaging, etc.
The application
is contrary to Policy GD2 of the Adopted Wealden Local Plan and
Policy GD2 of the Revised Draft / Non Statutory Wealden Local
Plan which embodies resistance to development in the countryside
outside development boundaries
The application
is contrary to Policy DC6 of the Adopted Wealden Local Plan and
Policy DC6 of the Revised Draft / Non Statutory Wealden Local
Plan in that the proposal is for a conversion to residential use
whereas the Policies give priority to conversion to small scale
commercial / business, tourism or recreational use over
residential use.
The application
is contrary to Policy DC8 of the Adopted Wealden Local Plan and
Policy DC8 of the Revised Draft / Non Statutory Wealden Local
Plan in that there is limited evidence provided to demonstrate
that applicant has made every reasonable attempt to secure
business re-use nor is the proposed residential conversion a
subordinate part of a scheme for business re-use. No structural
survey has been provided to indicate whether the barn is in a
condition that would allow conversion to any other purpose. The
Council is concerned that the proposed alterations will harm the
integrity of the building and adversely impact on the appearance
of this rural building. A further dwelling on the site will have
an adverse and unacceptable impact on the local road network.
The Council is
concerned that this proposal for a third house on the site is an
overdevelopment of the site, unacceptably attempting to turn a
single farm house and associated agricultural buildings in a
rural setting into a new settlement.
Should the
District Council be minded to permit the application, the Barn
should be tied to the existing dwelling and not permitted a
separate curtilage as proposed.
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