Land East of Birley Hill Cottage Bush Bank Hereford HR4 8EN

1. 1.The application is submitted on the basis that it represents the sustainable re-use of a redundant or disused building. Retrospective planning consent for the barn was granted less than 10 years ago and the applicant has confirmed that the barn was intended to be used to restore agricultural machinery – it has never been used as the field-barn permitted. The council is therefore not convinced that the building is genuinely redundant or disused and as such the proposal is contrary to Policies RA3 and RA5 of the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy. The proposal is however tantamount to the creation of an unsustainable new dwelling in the open countryside, contrary to Policy RA2 of the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy and the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. 2.The proposed development would have an unacceptable impact upon the landscape of the surrounding area. Due to the elevated position of the barn, conversion would be likely to increase the visual prominence of the building within the landscape and alter the character of the landscape from one that is primarily rural to one of a cluster of dwellings creating the impression of a more built-up landscape. This is contrary to policy LD1 of the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy.
3. 3.The proposed design will result in a building that is overly suburban in character, does not respect or reflect the local cottage vernacular and does not make a positive contribution to the architectural diversity and character of the area through innovative design, contrary to policy SD1 of the Herefordshire Local Plan Core Strategy.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

HR4 8EN

Application type

Planning Permission

Applicant

Private applicant