APL Planning Statement

We are seeking permission for the conversion of two existing redundant farm buildings to form two separate units of holiday accommodation. Comprising of a one bedroomed unit and a two bedroomed unit.

The existing buildings are insured. They are watertight and have been well maintained but have not been used for agricultural purposes for many years and are too small to accommodate modern agricultural machinery. They both have mains electricity and water. The proposal makes an efficient and viable use of previously used but now redundant farm buildings.

The change of use of the buildings for tourism does not reduce the capacity for land management or result in the need for additional replacement farm buildings.

The buildings are structurally sound and of a permanent and substantial construction and are capable of conversion without a significant new build, extension or alteration. The proposed changes respect the character and appearance of the rural buildings and would enhance the appearance of both the buildings and the wider site.

As a result of the proposal an adjacent modern farm building would be demolished to create a private courtyard with parking and to give stunning coastal views from the holiday accommodation. There would be a visual enhancement to the immediate setting.

A structural survey has been submitted alongside the application which verifies that the buildings are capable of being redeveloped as holiday accommodation and can be strengthened rather than replaced.

In converting these buildings to holiday accommodation, the proposal would allow the buildings to operate in a viable employment/tourism capacity rather than being retained in their present unusable condition.

Access to the holiday accommodation is intended to utilize the existing access serving the property of Corlea Farm.

A visibility splay of 70m has been indicated on drawing 21/09/01. Corlea Road may be driven on at a speed which is safe and appropriate. As a property owner along the road and having subsequently driven along it for 20 years plus, through experience in our opinion the maximum safe driving speed is 30mph. The entrance is well established, used daily and regularly by agricultural machinery.

It is our intention, at a later date, to submit a further planning application for changes to Corlea Farmhouse.

Corlea Farm is a traditionally built farmhouse with solid stone walls, it is extremely expensive to run and increasingly difficult to maintain in its present state. The property is damp, and its utility bills are exceptionally high. Even during the summer months, we are using fossil fuels to deal with the cold and damp conditions. Our separate application will be seeking to replace the existing dwelling without any significant increase to the floor area.

We will be looking to maintain the modern extension, built in the last 15 years. The external appearance of this part of the building would remain largely unchanged, with the internal layout repurposed to connect with the new section of the building.

The completed project would see an energy efficient and more sustainable family home, which would not have any adverse effect on the environment.