Crossways Farm, Morridge Top Road, Onecote, Staffordshire, ST13 7QD

1. 1.The development is not permitted by Class A, Part 6, Schedule 2 of the General Permitted Development Order, because the development would not be carried out on ‘agricultural land’ (land in use for agriculture and which is so used for the purposes of a trade or business) comprised in an agricultural unit of 5 ha or more. The development would also involve the provision of livestock housing within 400m of the camping barn – ‘Archie’s Barn’, a “protected building” at OS Grid Reference SK 044 538. The development would therefore exceed and not be provided for by the limits set out at Class A, Part 6, Sched. 2 of the General Permitted Development Order 2015.
2. 2.While it has been determined that the development is not permitted, the application has been submitted with a location plan which marks the positioning of the proposed building and full details and a comprehensive set of plans, which enable a determination in respect of the prior approval matters – siting, design and external appearance. Prior approval would otherwise be required and should be refused because: The proposed building would be visually prominent sited on the high ground of an open moorland landscape. It would intrude conspicuously on the wider landscape and add cumulatively to the adverse visual impacts of the two existing sheds that occupy the site. The visual harm to the landscape has heightened importance in this location due to its proximity to the Peak District National Park boundary and due to the Morridge Ridge being a landmark topographic feature of the district and of the National Park boundary and found at this location in the Council’s Landscape Assessment to have the highest sensitivities to development. The building would be centrally sited within quality, sensitive landscape. The development would be, and appear exposed, to views from public vantage and appear as a visually prominent building and an intrusion into the countryside. In these regards, there would be conflict with policies SS10, DC1, and DC3 of the Local Plan, the terms of the NPPF and the Council’s design SPG.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

ST13 7QD

Application type

Agricultural/Forestry Determination

Date validated

17 September 2026

Target decision date

15 October 2026

Applicant

Private applicant

Agent address

19, Mayfield, Ashbourne, DE6 2JA

Case officer

Ben Hurst