Demolition of existing chalet dwelling and replacement in new location with a single storey dwelling

Why Was This Refused?

• ✓Proposed new dwelling location would be outside the existing farm group, extending development into the countryside
• ✓New siting was some distance from the existing chalet being replaced
• ✓Existing chalet had been occupied long enough to qualify for a certificate of lawful use without apparent inconvenience
• ✓Insufficient justification provided to override housing policy restrictions on countryside development
• ✓Officer recommended approval but the Planning Committee disagreed and refused

This application sought permission to demolish an existing chalet dwelling at Lower Glentramman Farm, Garey Road, Ramsey, and replace it with a single-storey dwelling on a different part of the site. The applicant argued that the existing dwelling's proximity to farm buildings and limited amenities justified relocating it to a new position. The Planning Committee refused the application, overturning the case officer's recommendation to approve. The Committee found that the proposed new location would fall outside the established farm group and would push built development further into the countryside, which conflicted with housing policy on replacement dwellings in rural areas. The Committee also noted that the existing chalet had been in use for long enough to support a certificate of lawful use, and that its occupation had not caused apparent problems for either residents or the farm operation. On that basis, the Committee concluded there was no sufficient planning justification to allow the dwelling to be relocated to a new countryside position.

The Planning Committee refused the application. Although the officer had recommended approval, the Committee concluded that the proposed new location for the replacement dwelling would sit outside the existing farm group, extending built development into the open countryside. The Committee also found that the existing chalet had been occupied without apparent difficulty for long enough to undermine the justification for moving it to a new site, and considered there was insufficient reason to set aside the relevant housing policy in this case.

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