By Trevor Bevins @Dorsetecho

Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Dorset farm is to be allowed to demolish a barn and build four houses in its place.

Councillors agreed the development at Sandpits Lane, Madjeston near Gillingham – despite local opposition.

Northern area planning committee members heard that the scheme already had permitted development approval under a rarely used planning rule applying to farm buildings, but that permission did not include demolishing the barn.

Councillors agreed to also allow the demolition, followed by the construction of two pairs of homes, brick built with slate roofs, in the local style. An existing, 19th century, stone wall will be retained as part of the development.

Gillingham town council had objected to the application claiming it would be out of character as well as being “dominant, over-bearing and harmful to the landscape.”

Eight residents had also written to object. Among their comments were worries about additional traffic, that the site would be unsuitable for families and would set a precedent for developing homes in the open countryside.

A planning officer report denied that agreement would open the way for similar developments: “The proposal would not set local precedent for more houses as there is a prior approval for only four dwellings and no more. As to precedent for the fallback position, this is considered on a case by case basis.”

Gillingham councillor Belinda Ridout said she was happy to see what she described as a ‘large and ugly’ barn demolished to make way for cottages which were similar to those nearby on the same lane.

“It won’t generate much more traffic and it will be built in the local, vernacular, materials. I would give my support and would recommend it,” she said.

But other councillors were less convinced – Cllr Tim Cook, from Shaftesbury, said he worried about setting a precedent, a view shared by Sherborne’s Cllr Robin Legg.

He claimed that others would see the example being set and use agricultural permitted development rights to make similar applications in open countryside where houses were not, generally, allowed unless tied to an agricultural business.

Cllrs Jon Andrews (Sherborne) and Les Fry (Dorchester) both claimed that four new countryside homes built in the local style enhanced the look of the area, compared to a large industrial-style barn.

Originally published in the

Dorset Echo