A client had received an enforcement notice from the local council for the extension and construction of a barn without the benefit of planning permission. The case officer from the local council advised that a retrospective planning application be made to rectify the issue.
The history of the site was complex. Planning permission was granted retrospectively for an open sided barn for the storage of agricultural machinery in 2011. The building existing today sits partly on this location but does not have permission and is greater in size. Aerial photography showing the changing buildings on site helped to support the case.
The applicant wished to move his existing shop fitting business to the site from a neighbouring town which would provide jobs locally and would benefit the local rural economy. He wanted to use the existing building to store materials for the shop fitters and apply for a new office building for administration staff. The change of use to B1/B8 also requires the benefit of planning permission. Whilst the application was at the determination stage, new traffic requirements regarding the impact of nitrogen on the Ashdown Forest came into place. As such, we had to demonstrate that the proposal would not lead to a significant increase in traffic and prove that the benefit to the rural economy would outweigh the harm. The new access proposed improved the visibility splays and allowed vehicles to pass safely.
