- Decision
- dismissed, 26 August 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: O Marigold
- Authority
- Cornwall (South West)
- Appeal reference
- 6010975
- Application reference
- PA25/08174
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Class Q prior approval — part of timber portal-frame agricultural building to single dwelling
- Homes
- 1
- Site context
- open countryside
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- DM9
- Main issues
- whether works amount to conversion
Summary
Class Q conversion of part of an open-fronted timber barn, dismissed under Hibbitt. The works would "go well beyond a conversion and would amount in effect to a fresh build" (DL ¶11). The Framework is not referred to.
What made the difference
Individually permissible works added up cumulatively: three of the four walls of the dwelling would be new, two bays demolished, and the roof finishes replaced (DL ¶¶9–11).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM9 | fail | GPDO Q.1(j)/Hibbitt — three of four dwelling walls new, two bays demolished, new roof finishes and floor; "in effect … a fresh build" (DL 4-11); Framework not cited |
Key facts
- 8-bay open-fronted timber barn; 4 bays to dwelling, 2 retained agricultural, 2 demolished
- Appellant's Sydenham appeal (APP/Q3115/W/25/3366845) distinguished
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.