A REFUSAL decision for the planned conversion of a farm building near Skipton to a home under permitted development rights have been upheld by a Government planning inspector.
A prior approval notification for the change of use of an agricultural building at Townhead Fold, Becks Brow to Mere Syke Bridge, Wigglesworth, was refused by the former Craven District Council in December, 2022.
That decision has now been upheld by the Planning Inspectorate after a planning inspector dismissed the appeal by Colin Peel.
Proposed was the conversion of a barn, part of a number of agricultural buildings in the open countryside, to a single-storey, four bedroom home, with parking.
In order for the application to be approved under permitted development rights, certain criteria had to be met, including that no work on the proposed development had got underway.
On their visit to the site, the inspector noted that the barn contained 'the structural shell of a dwelling under construction, including walls and fenestration' and found 'development has commenced'.
In concluding that the proposal was not permitted development, the inspector concluded: "It is a development for which an application for planning permission would be required, and cannot be addressed through the prior approval provisions."
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