The inspector acknowledged that a marketing exercise had demonstrated a lack of local demand for commercial premises, mainly because of the site's remote location and restricted access along narrow country lanes. She considered that the scheme had been sensitively designed to respect the form and construction of the barns using existing openings and matching materials.
The council was concerned that the homes would undermine national policy aimed at reducing reliance on private car use and considered three dwellings preferable to four. But the inspector concluded that the substantial buildings could be converted to four dwellings without extension and with the same effect on the number of private car trips. She decided that the sustainability issue was not an overriding objection.
DCS Number 100-050-792
Inspector Wenda Fabian; Hearing.
