Dorset Council: Chris Miell has recently secured planning permission for the erection of a new detached house in the Green Belt near Colehill, Wimborne.
The proposal will provide a 4-bed detached dwelling set amongst a spacious woodland plot. The new home will assimilate comfortably into the area’s semi-rural character, whilst preserving neighbouring amenity and safeguarding the site’s sylvan setting through a combination of tree protection and replacement planting.
The proposed development has been informed by the bulk, scale and massing of other dwellings along Lonnen Road. Externally, the proposal would have a traditional design and appearance which would be in-keeping with local vernacular through the use of a pitched roof form and traditional materials.
The planning permission represents the culmination of several years of work with existing and former landowners to achieve consent for new build residential development at the site. As below, when we were appointed to act on the site, we formulated a clear planning strategy to maximise the chance of success, which was informed by national planning policy and case law.
At present, the site is occupied by detached building, which is situated at the rear of the site and served by an existing vehicular access from Lonnen Road. The building dates from the early 1970s and the original planning permission restricted its use to horticultural purposes. However, the building and surrounding land had been used for storage purposes, which including the storage of motor vehicles for several decades.
On that basis, we applied for a lawful development certificate to confirm that the existing use of the land and buildings for storage use (Use Class B8) was lawful. Lawfulness was claimed on the grounds that no enforcement action may be taken in respect of the use because the time for enforcement action (ten years) had expired. A certificate of lawful use was issued by Dorset Council on in January 2023 which confirmed that the use of the land and the building for storage (use class B8) was lawful.
Once lawfulness was confirmed, we were able to argue that the site met the definition of previously developed land as set out within the Annexe 2: National Planning Policy Framework. This in turn allowed us to put forward a robust planning justification in favour of redevelopment for residential use.
Within our supporting statement, we argued that the existing building and the use of the adjoining land for storage purposes was unsightly and contributed negatively to the local distinctness of the area and the openness of the Green Belt.
We then undertook a detailed assessment of the impact of the proposal and concluded that the proposed development would not be inappropriate development in the Green Belt because it comprises the complete redevelopment of previously developed land, which would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development. Accordingly, we concluded that the proposal would satisfy exception criterion (g) of Paragraph 154 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
The proposal was positively received by the LPA and after several months of negotiation to finalise a suitable approach to ecology and woodland management, the application was recommended for approval by the Planning Officer. Frustratingly, the planning permission was delayed due to wider issues associated with Dorset Council, BCP Council and the New Forest National Park Authority agreeing a strategy to mitigate recreational impacts upon the New Forest National Park associated with new dwellings. After many months of back and forth between solicitors this process was completed and planning permission was granted for the new build!
This decision represents the culmination of several years of work, which saw us successfully implement our long planning strategy to achieve permission for new housing in the Green Belt. Our client was understandably delighted with the decision and is now looking forward to building their new home.
If you have a parcel of land and would like to pursue a residential development, then why not call Pure Town Planning on 01202 585524 or email info@puretownplanning.co.uk to arrange a consultation to see how we can help you.