Claire Shannon, Associate in the Cheffins Planning & Development team said:
“Following a lengthy process and two refusals from South Cambridgeshire County Council we have managed to achieve planning permission for a redundant farm building to be replaced with a large country house.
The change of use application for the farm building, which is at Brickyard Farm, Croydon, was refused twice, however, we managed to get the decision allowed at appeal. We successfully argued against the reasons for refusal and The Inspector overturned the Council’s decision.
With this appeal decision and the principle of residential development on the site agreed, we were able to ensure a fresh permission was agreed for a replacement house which was granted on the 6th October.
The case officer who was determining the application said: ‘Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposal conflicts with Policy S/7 of the Local Plan, significant weight must be applied to the existence of an extant permission which establishes a genuine fallback position and the principle of residential development on the site. Moreover, the inspector stated that the site is ‘an appropriate location for housing’. Therefore, on balance it is considered the replacement of the existing building which is of no particular merit with an appropriately designed dwelling is acceptable in this instance and will not result in any additional harm than the consented scheme.’
The replacement building will be set within the curtilage of a family farm. Gary Johns Architects worked closely with the client to design a beautiful family home, whilst following the footprint of the building to be demolished.
This shows how through persistence, persuasion and understanding of planning policy, we were able to ensure planning permission was granted for a reasonable property at the Croydon location.”
For further information, contact Claire Shannon on claire.shannon@cheffins.co.uk