# Woodcote House Farm, Dodford, Bromsgrove (Class Q, 2 dwellings)

- **Decision:** allowed, 1 September 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: D Marley
- **Authority:** Bromsgrove (West Midlands)
- **Appeal reference:** 6009062
- **Application reference:** 26/00107/CUPRIO
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Class Q prior approval for change of use of an agricultural building to 2 dwellings
- **Homes:** 2
- **Site context:** open-countryside
- **Green Belt:** no
- **Framework applied:** August 2026 NPPF
- **Determinative policies:** TR6, GPDO Sch2 Pt3 Class Q.2(1)(a),(f)
- **Main issues:** highways, design and external appearance
- **Tags:** tier-2, prior-approval, class-q, transitional-no-consultation

## Summary
Class Q prior approval for two dwellings in a Bromsgrove barn was allowed. The existing shared access already served a house and farm traffic, so TR6 was met (DL ¶14). The Framework's design and amenity policies were held not to import a living-conditions assessment into the Class Q "design or external appearance" matter (DL ¶19).

## What made the difference
Existing use of the access (DL ¶9-11), and a narrow reading of the prior approval matter: "to extend this to include a broad assessment of the living conditions of future occupiers … would … go beyond the provisions of the subject matter of the prior approval" (DL ¶19).

## Policy findings
- **TR6: pass.** existing residential and agricultural use of a 50 mph access; two more dwellings not a material intensification; conflict with Streetscape Design Guide splays given limited weight (DL 7-14)
- **DP3: not-engaged.** Framework's amenity and design policies do not import living-conditions assessment into the Class Q design/external appearance matter (DL 17-19)

## Key facts
- Amenity space enclosed within the open-sided barn attacked by the council on outlook and daylight (DL 15-16)
- Framework "has not fundamentally changed" matters material to the decision (DL 5)

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6009062
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/8c98cda2-ec00-4760-b6e5-e612db30f050

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6009062.html

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