Project Summary
- Lye Hole Farm is a former farm complex situated in open countryside, centred around a Grade II listed farmhouse.
- Used primarily as a family home, the owners refurbished and converted several outbuildings into holiday let uses in recent years to establish a viable alternative business to farming.
- Research and documentation of the site’s planning history.
- A suite of pre application submissions, planning, listed building consent and discharge of condition applications were secured for a range of conversions of out buildings into holiday lets and alterations and extensions to the listed Farmhouse.
The Planning Process
A rigorous search of the Council’s historical records was undertaken to provide our clients with a clear chronology of the various planning and listed building permissions that were already in place.
Retrospective planning and listed building consent was secured for works that had already been undertaken to convert an ancillary listed structure into a holiday let. Planning permission was then obtained for the conversion of a second outbuilding from a B1 office use (for which there had proved no demand), into holiday accommodation. The discharge of an outstanding condition on the B1 office use was also resolved, as this was hindering its conversion to any other use.
A pre-application enquiry was submitted for works to the listed Farmhouse involving the demolition and replacement of an existing conservatory with a larger, contemporary styled garden room and general maintenance works to the building’s fabric. The Council accepted the principle of development and confirmed the additional work necessary for an application for listed building consent. This was subsequently secured within six weeks.
A second application for listed building consent followed seeking the conversion of part of the roof for an en-suite bathroom and alterations to a bedroom below to install a new access staircase. This application raised a series of ecological issues as evidence of bats was found in the roof.
The applications were supported by a full suite of documents including heritage assessments, photographic schedules, schedules of works, design and access statements, ecological reports and structural surveys. These explained the historic and architectural significance of the farm complex and provided a robust justification for the proposals, enabling the Council to approve the applications without further negotiations or compromises to the design.
Testimonial
“Julie has a pretty grounded experience in all different aspects of the planning world. She’s very knowledgeable. She’s ruthlessly efficient in getting the facts straight – a pretty determined lady. She’ll steer your planning through. I’m really happy. She’s done a great job for us.”
Ian Reid