- Decision
- allowed, 2 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: N Unwin
- Authority
- West Lancashire (North West)
- Appeal reference
- 6005963
- Application reference
- 2025/0608/PNC
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Class Q prior approval, conversion of agricultural buildings to 5 dwellings
- Homes
- 5
- Site context
- open countryside, green belt
- Green Belt
- Yes
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- P3
- Main issues
- Class Q siting; design
Summary
Class Q prior approval for five one-bed dwellings in farm buildings was granted on appeal. Small gardens were not "impractical or undesirable", and the minimal external works kept the agricultural character. The Inspector noted "no substantive changes" in the 2026 Framework relevant to the appeal (DL ¶2).
What made the difference
The Council's garden-size objection failed because the units are single-storey and one-bed with usable rectangular gardens (DL ¶14). Updated bat surveys dealt with the ecology point (DL ¶15).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| P3 | pass | mapped code (determinative is GPDO Q.2(1)(e), not Framework): 29-70 sq m gardens for 1-bed single-storey units are "sensible and realistic" (DL 12-16) | |
| DP3 | pass | GPDO Q.2(1)(f): minimal external change keeps agricultural character; gardens screened (DL 17-19) |
Key facts
- Council accepted agricultural use before 24 July 2023; objected only on (e) and (f)
- Some gardens extend into the Green Belt; Council raised no openness concern (DL 21)
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.