Nick Grace at GraceMachin Planning & Property was approached following a personal recommendation by the owner of a former agricultural building that had been converted with planning permission to equestrian use but was now redundant.

The clients previous planning consultants had advised the landowner to make an application to convert to residential via Prior Approval (Class Q). This application failed principally on the basis that the current use was not agricultural, and no structural survey had been submitted with the application to identify that the building could be converted and would not constitute new build development in the Green Belt. 

Once an initial planning site visit and appraisal had been undertaken, a structural survey was instructed and completed alongside an ecological appraisal. Nick Grace then directed the project to a local architect giving him a strong brief that the design should reflect the agricultural heritage and appearance of the building so that it would sit comfortably within its countryside Green Belt setting.

Based upon a detailed and up to date understanding of 2019 Rushcliffe Borough Local Plan Part 2 policies, a comprehensive planning statement was submitted to ensure the application was robust. The application was positively determined within 8 weeks of validation under delegated powers without needing to be considered by a Planning Committee.

The works are currently underway (Dec 2020) and the home will be completed for occupation in 2021.

This case study identifies that even if you have had an application failure a fresh assessment by Grace Machin Planning & Property can result in a permission being granted within 12 months of a previous application submission failing simply based upon not identifying the correct planning strategy.