Conversion of existing garage office to tourist accommodation (Class 3.6), including new sewer treatment works, external decking and carport

Why Was This Approved?

• ✓Small, one-bedroom scale judged to cause limited countryside harm
• ✓Unit physically connected to the main dwelling and cannot be sold separately
• ✓Alignment with the DfE Visitor Economy Strategy
• ✓Conditions restricting use to tourism only
• ✓Parking and lighting details required before first use
• ✓New sewage treatment works included in the scheme
• ✓drainage

The proposal sought to convert an existing garage and office at a rural property into a single-bedroom tourist accommodation unit (Class 3.6), along with new sewage treatment works, external decking, and a carport. The site is in the countryside, where policies generally restrict new development and set specific criteria for converting rural buildings to tourist use. The committee weighed those countryside and rural conversion policies against the particular characteristics of this scheme. Because the unit is only one bedroom, remains physically connected to the main dwelling, and cannot be separated or sold independently, it was judged to cause limited harm. The proposal was also found to align with the Department for Enterprise Visitor Economy Strategy. Five planning conditions were attached, covering tourism-only use, the unit's continued connection to the main house, and the submission of parking and lighting details before first use.

The committee approved the application because the tourist unit's small scale — one bedroom, attached to the main house — was considered to cause limited harm to the countryside. Conditions restrict the unit to tourism use only, prevent it from being separated or sold apart from the main dwelling, and require parking and lighting details to be agreed before it is first occupied.

Conditions (5)

1. 1

   Condition 1

   The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

2. 2

   Condition 2

   The tourist development hereby approved shall remain connected to the main house known as 'Lambfell Beg' and shall only be used for tourist purposes in line with C3 and shall not be sold, rented nor used as a separate independent dwelling at any time.

3. 3

   Condition 3

   The tourist accommodation and use hereby approved shall not be occupied by the same person(s) for a single period or cumulative periods exceeding 31 days in any calendar year.

4. 4

   Condition 4

   Prior to the tourist use coming into use, details of parking for the site for use by the main dwelling and associated to the tourist unit shall be provided and approved in writing by the Department. The tourist unit shall not be occupied or operated until the parking and turning has been provided in accordance with the approved plans and shall be retained for parking and free from obstruction at all times.

5. 5

   Condition 5

   Prior to the tourist use coming into use, details of lighting for the site shall be provided and approved in writing by the Department. The lighting shall only be installed in full accordance with the details approved and retained as such thereafter.

Documents (24 · 6 superseded)