Barn Conversion Appeal Decision

An interesting planning appeal decision at Brecon Beacons National Park involving a proposed conversion of a barn to a live-work unit has been made by the Planning Inspectorate. The decision appears to vindicate National Park planning policy requiring that developers must demonstrate that sufficient efforts have been made to secure a suitable commercial, tourism, sport or recreational use before proposals for conversion to residential use are put forward for consideration by the local planning authority. Powys County Council has similar policies for barn conversions although devious applicants via their equally devious agents still try to promote residential-only conversion schemes. In the Brecon Beacons case, the Inspector confronted essentially by a proposal for a residential conversion went on to apply normal countryside restriction policies and considered whether there was an agricultural need for the additional "house" - there was none and the appeal was dismissed.