Agricultural and Rural, Commercial, Planning Appeals, Tourism and Leisure
Parker Planning Services are exceptionally proud and elated to announce that a successful planning appeal ruled in our favour this month. The client is relieved and so thankful that this case has been approved, so that they can now push forward to create a specialist Equestrian facility with a classroom, arena and equine stabling facilities in picturesque North Norfolk. As a specialist equine expert her knowledge is unrivalled in the region. This setting will create unique educational partnerships in this specialist subject, with a local college and create employment in a rural area.
The existing barns are currently used as holiday accommodation, and adjacent to a Grade Two listed building. Amendments were made to reduce the scale of the originally proposed building, on the councils’ recommendation. Unfortunately, these amended plans were subsequently rejected at Committee level by a narrow majority. At this point, the barns were curtilage listed – by proxy – due to their proximity to the house. At this stage, it was agreed in principal that the proposal of an equestrian unit in the location would be acceptable, with potential amendments to the design, but that the elevated landscape could cause an issue.
At this point – in March 2018, the client approached Parker Planning Services. We saw that the slightly elevated site and location presented some issues – however we noted that other agricultural buildings in the surrounding landscape were also slightly elevated, and these were immediately adjacent to a Grade Two listed church.
We used a Heritage Consultant – who presented a case that the barns weren’t curtilage listed and that the development would be acceptable. Parker Planning Services then presented a detailed statement with the applicant that the development was completely appropriate for the setting – because it was an agricultural building in a rural setting.
We’re absolutely delighted to announce this month that the Appeal was ruled in our favour – and allowed the development to proceed –because it was felt that overall the benefits would outweigh the minor detrimental impact the development would have on the neighbourhood.
