Case Study : Listed Barn Conversion
BRIEF
A planning application to add a large, two storey extension to a listed barn conversion had been resisted three times by the council. We were approached to assist with the appeal.
KEY ISSUES
Homeowner; Appraisal and Strategy; Planning Appeal; Specialist Reports; Listed Building; South East.
LPA
Horsham District Council
CHALLENGES
The Council's refusal focussed on two core reasons. The first was the potential impact on the countryside; the second was the potential impact on a historic Sussex barn.
SOLUTION
To overcome the first concern we undertook a robust visual impact assessment, with additional photomontages. This successfully showed that the development would have negligible impact on the countryside when viewed from public vantage points.
To alleviate any concerns over the impact on the historic barn, we undertook extensive research into the history of West Sussex farm buildings and were able to prove that the proposed barn 'aisle' was a sympathetic design solution as they were a common trait amongst Sussex Barns.
At appeal the Planning Inspector concluded:
"The extension would effectively add another two bays to the barn which is clearly larger than as envisaged in the Advice Leaflet; however the question is whether it would harm the character of the building or its setting. The barn now has an established residential character and the new build would be seen as an addition to an already converted barn. In my view, this would be a sympathetic extension, clearly distinguishable from the original structure and using construction details, building forms and materials typical of historic Sussex barns. It would be set back from the front elevation with a lower ridge height, and would 'wrap around' at the rear under a 'catslide' roof, making it subservient both in scale and character and proportionate in size to the existing building." The appeal was allowed with no onerous conditions.