# Barn at Low Farm, Post Office Lane, Norley

- **Decision:** allowed, 28 August 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: N Unwin
- **Authority:** Cheshire West and Chester (North West)
- **Appeal reference:** 6008197
- **Application reference:** 24/03166/S73
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Appeal against condition 4 (blanket removal of PD rights) on s73 permission for barn conversion to two dwellings
- **Homes:** 2
- **Site context:** open-countryside
- **Green Belt:** no
- **Framework applied:** August 2026 NPPF
- **Determinative policies:** DM6(2)(c), DM6(1)(c)
- **Main issues:** PD-rights condition
- **Tags:** tier-2, condition-appeal, pd-rights-removal

## Summary
A blanket PD-rights removal condition on a barn conversion was replaced with a class-specific one. The original condition was imprecise and lacked the "clear justification" that DM6(2)(c) requires for most roof alterations. Extensions and curtilage buildings could still harm the barn's isolated agricultural form, so removing those classes was justified (DL ¶¶9–12).

## What made the difference
The Inspector tested each GPDO class against the character reason. Classes C and G (limited roof alterations, flues) "would be relatively limited in scale and preserve the character", so removing them was unnecessary (DL ¶12). The Framework was said not to change the policy context on this issue (DL ¶2).

## Policy findings
- **DM6(2)(c): pass.** brief "agricultural character" reason not clear justification for a broad PD removal; classes A, AA, B, D, E and Part 2 A justified, C and G not (DL 10-12)
- **DM6(1)(c): fail.** original condition imprecise — did not name GPDO classes, contrary to PPG (DL 9)

## Key facts
- Traditional barn partly visible from public realm, isolated agricultural character
- Condition replaced with class-specific PD removal (Part 1 A, AA, B, D, E; Part 2 A)

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/8b4966b7-5958-41ab-82d6-83d81f0cfe06
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6008197

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6008197.html

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