PART CHANGE OF USE OF BARN TO DWELLING, EXTENSION AND ALTERATION TO FARMHOUSE, EXTENSION TO COTTAGE AND CHANGE OF USE OF BARNS TO FORM A TWO BEDROOM HOLIDAY LET – UPPER MOOR FARM PARWICH
The 45 acre farm lies on high ground in the heart of the Peak District National Park about two miles north of Parwich. The farmstead consists of a farmhouse and attached traditional barn, an attached cottage and a range of single storey traditional farm buildings. In addition to the east of this group, are more modern farm buildings with three portal frame buildings and various outbuildings. There were also steel framed lean-tos and other structures attached to the traditional buildings.
The three bedroom farmhouse had (back in 1991), been extended into the adjoining barn without planning permission. The cottage while separate from the farmhouse was extended in 1991 as part of an approved set of proposals allowing the parents of the previous occupants to live next door.
Following discussions with the Park Authority, we made two lawful use applications to regularize the partial use of the barn as residential accommodation and to address the issue of the separateness of the cottage as an independent planning unit.
The applicants were on a very tight timetable to get the buildings renovated and their initial requirements were to just convert the remaining area of barn and to extend the farmhouse. As matters progressed the owners looked to extend the cottage as well as the farmhouse and to convert the remaining traditional buildings into a two bedroom holiday let. This then entailed the submission of three planning applications which followed on from the two lawful development certificates.
The summer of 2008 was spent waiting for the lawful development certificates to be issued. The Park is not measured on the speed of delivery of Lawful Development Certificates and the work is handled by the Council’s legal department. It took over 4 months to get the ‘8’ week decisions.
By this time builders were on site undertaking works which did not require planning permission but as the summer turned to autumn, the builder was anxious to proceed and the planning ended up playing catch-up with the building work. This caused strains with the Planning Authority.
By early in 2009, all three planning applications were approved under delegated powers. The designs sought to protect the character of the existing buildings and issues such as the impact on wildlife together with the necessary structural reports were addressed or undertaken early.
The designs also involved removing buildings and structures erected as part of a farming operation which were unattractive in the landscape. For example the removal of lean-to steel shed at the side of the attached barn to the farmhouse which allowed for extensive views to the west over the Peak Park. This approach was also supported by the Peak Park.
Works are now nearing completion and the overall impact of the farm on the landscape is much improved. The size and quality of the accommodation available within the farmhouse has been doubled and the cottage has been extended by over a third. In line with planning policy, the conversion of the outbuildings into a holiday let did not involve any extensions however before the application was submitted, the opportunity was taken to repair the outbuildings, so that they were suitable for conversion.
