YORKSHIRE Dales National Park Authority member Ian McPherson said he felt as though he had a gun to his head when determining a barn conversion scheme at Hebden.

And several other members expressed their shock at the unexpected advice given by the authority’s monitoring officer, Gill Cooper, at last week's planning meeting.

Members had been poised to confirm their almost unanimous decision from the previous meeting to approve the conversion of Moorside Farm, Hebden, into a local occupancy house with ancillary office space.

But, last week, members were advised that it would be illegal to approve the barn conversion because the material considerations listed by members were not sufficient to justify not complying with the authority’s Development Plan or the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The "considerations" put forward included securing a local occupancy dwelling, providing employment and enhancing the economic viability of Hebden as well as supporting the emerging local plan policy.

Retired judge Peter Charlesworth, chairman of the authority, said: “I have to say that to have the advice dropped on us this morning is unsatisfactory.”

He asked for a month’s deferment to give members time to consider the situation. “I would still like to approve the conversion of this barn,” he said.

North Yorkshire County Councillor John Blackie described it as sabre rattling by the legal officer and wondered if a decision to approve would have to be considered by the Secretary of State.

Committee chairman Harold Brown said: “I would not have changed my mind if approval had been on the table today. I think it’s illogical. We are crying out for houses. We are struggling to build any affordable houses.”

Speaking after the meeting, Gary Smith, the authority's director of conservation and community, said: “Officers recommended that the application be deferred so that the legal issues could be given fuller consideration and that advice was accepted by members.”

Story by ARC News