- Decision
- allowed, 4 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: S Harrington
- Authority
- Cornwall (South West)
- Appeal reference
- 6006181
- Application reference
- PA25/04038
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Conversion and enlargement of a redundant stable block into a 3-bedroom annexe to the existing house
- Site context
- open countryside
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- Cornwall LP Policy 7, DM10
- Development plan policies
- Cornwall Local Plan 2010-2030 Policies 1, 2, 3, 7, 12, 23, Climate Emergency DPD 2023 C1
- Main issues
- location; character
Summary
A 3-bedroom annexe in a converted stable 26 m from a countryside house was allowed. An occupancy condition kept it part of the main dwelling rather than a new house, and the Council's annexe guidance note was not development plan policy (DL 12, 18, 20).
What made the difference
The functional family link, which a condition could secure, meant no new dwelling in the countryside. The utilitarian stable made no strong contribution to rural character (DL 15, 21).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall LP Policy 7 | accord | occupancy condition keeps the annexe part of the main dwelling, so it is not a new dwelling in the countryside (DL 11-20) | |
| DM10 | pass | letter cites 'Policy DM62(B)': no clear justification to remove PD rights (DL 32) |
Key facts
- Multi-generational care need; single-level accommodation said to be a medical necessity (DL 14, 19)
- Penhale Dunes SAC objection withdrawn by the Council (DL 4-5)
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.