This is now the third application to be submitted for this site in less than a year.

The first, in May 2024, sought the ‘conversion of barn to dwelling’. In our objection we argued the proposed development would ‘be damaging to the heritage coast landscape, the South Devon National Landscape, the historical environment, the dark skies, and further add to the erosion of tranquillity and footpath user experience and should be refused’.

At the start of November last year, that application was withdrawn, only to be followed a few weeks later by a second application, this time: ‘to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use under Class R of agricultural buildings to a flexible commercial use for Class E (Commercial, Business or Service)’.

Again the Society was firmly of the opinion that the local planning department should refuse this request. In our opinion the proposal as submitted did not qualify for Class R. The details the applicant had submitted were not supported by the evidence.

That application was withdrawn at the start of the year, replaced three weeks later by this application, seeking a ‘certificate of lawfulness for existing lean-to structure as an extension to the existing agricultural barn’.

Once again, and as you can read in the objection we have submitted, the application should be refused, given that declarations given by the applicant are again incorrect.

Unfortunately the case officer was not persuaded, deciding:

Overall, officers are mindful that the barn is an agricultural building built on agricultural land. The lean-to was thus built on agricultural land. Agricultural use does not constitute development. Whilst there is limited evidence of any active use of the lean-to itself, there is no suggestion that any change of use from agriculture has occurred, and there is insufficient evidence to consider that this use has been abandoned, or that the building now has a nil use. The only conclusion that can be reached, therefore, is that the lawful use of the building is agriculture and that its use for agriculture is and would be lawful.

Consequently the certificate was granted.