20 Jan 2023
A ‘Grand Designs’ style redevelopment of 17th century farm buildings has been rejected at appeal.
The scheme involved a Grade II listed barn, farmhouse and granary on Green Belt land at Searches Farm, Bedmond.
It would have seen the redevelopment of previously developed land comprising the demolition of existing buildings and structures, and the change of use of several barns to create one two-bedroom dwelling and two three-bedroom dwellings, and the construction of five for-bedroom dwellings, a well-house, water tanks and associated car parking, landscaping and a new access road.
The plans were rejected by St Albans district councillors back in March 2022, and the application subsequently went to appeal.
But planning inspector Jonathon Parsons upheld the initial decision, stating the development and access road would greatly impact on the Green Belt.
He added: “Surviving historic fabric, traditional detailing, the long and prominent form of the barn are amongst the features that underpin the listed building’s architectural and historic interest. Its agrarian setting has been compromised and changed with the varied collection of industrial/commercial buildings/ structures and hard standings.
“Nevertheless, beyond this, there are fields/paddocks, and the barn remains a prominent feature, along with the farmstead, within a wider area. “Consequently, its legibility as a former agricultural building remains and this important quality contributes to the significance and special interest of the heritage asset as well.”
In conclusion, he stated: “The housing, economic and environmental benefits of the scheme would weigh in favour of the proposal. However, the weight of such benefits is reduced given that the fallback position would have a less harmful impact on the Green Belt. There would also be harm to a designated heritage asset.
“For all these reasons, ‘Very special circumstances’ do not exist as the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and other harm are not clearly outweighed by other considerations.”
