TEST Valley planners have approved a change of use application on a Horsebridge farm.
Julien Sclater applied to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) to change the use of land at John of Gaunt Farm, Horsebridge, so an extension can be made to an already existing house.
The house, known as The Cowstall, was constructed in 2015 with a total floor area of 105m2. Mr Sclater has applied to have 402m2 of land immediately to the west of The Cowstall changed from agricultural to residential use for an extension.
The application was unanimously approved at the Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday, November 5.
Addressing the committee, Graham Searle, from King’s Somborne Parish Council, objected to the application. He said: “The thing really revolves around the fact that this is designated countryside and therefore there is not supposed to be any development.
“At the moment the area doesn’t have any issues with light, noise or traffic – there isn’t a lot of traffic in this area. Our concern is that any further development will mean that it is no longer countryside, and it will be used for whatever; a swimming pool, a tennis court, they can appeal for whatever.
“Our concern is really, how are you going to tie up the fact that they are not going to put up a flag pole, they are not going to build a swimming pool, they are not going to build a granny annexe. Because at the moment, the policy prevents them from doing any of that.”
Mr Lane, the agent for the application, defended the plans.
He said: “This application is for a change of use from agricultural to residential of a relatively small area of land surrounding a modest barn conversion which was converted under permitted development with a limited amount of curtilage.
“The proposed development extends to approximately 400 square metres of grassland and concrete. The application does not include any build form or physical alterations except that to provide 10 per cent BNG resulting in 18 square meters of concrete being reverted back to grassland. There will be no loss of existing vegetation, however, meaning the proposal will have no adverse impact on the countryside.”
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Mr Lane also said that any further development would require further planning applications.
Cllr Alan Dowden said: “The report itself is pretty self explanatory, and there have been a lot of questions, but I have had no illusions about it. There would need to be another application if there was anything further in any case, and all we’re doing, as the application states, is a change of use.
“So, I don’t know what we’re fussing about quite frankly. I will be supporting the application.”
The committee voted unanimously to approve the application.
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