- Decision
- dismissed, 27 August 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: K Dryden
- Authority
- Dorset (South West)
- Appeal reference
- 6009850
- Application reference
- P/PAAC/2025/06052
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Class Q prior approval — barn to dwelling with extension (2024 GPDO amendments)
- Homes
- 1
- Site context
- open countryside, rural lane
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- No Framework version cited
- Determinative policies
- GPDO Class Q.1(i)(ii), GPDO Class Q.1(i)(vi)
- Main issues
- Class Q extension limitations
Summary
A Class Q barn conversion with an extension was refused prior approval. The existing barn's principal elevation is the west side facing the yard, where its openings are, not the blank, screened side facing the lane. The extension was therefore not "to the rear" and breached Q.1(i)(ii) and (vi) (DL ¶¶10–13). Class Q does not require regard to the Framework (DL ¶16).
What made the difference
The principal elevation was judged functionally, from the openings and loading area, rather than by the highway-facing rule of thumb in householder technical guidance (DL ¶¶10–12).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPDO Class Q.1(i)(ii) | fail | principal elevation of existing barn is west (openings to yard), so extension on east lane side is not to the rear (DL 10-13) | |
| GPDO Class Q.1(i)(vi) | fail | extends beyond a principal elevation wall (DL 13) |
Key facts
- Extant Class Q approval P/PAAC/2024/07631 without extension
- East elevation faces Bakers Lane but blank and screened
- Dorset Heaths SAC — Reg 77 separate
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.