Planning Permission Secured to Convert Drovers Barn into Holiday Let in Swerford

Planning permission has been secured for a private client following pre-application discussions with West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) officers and submission of a planning application to change the use from a B8 storage use to a charming Cotswold holiday let, located on the doorstep of many of the areas key tourist attractions.

Senior Planner, Joanna Lishman, presented the case to Members of WODC Uplands Planning Committee whereby the officer recommendation to approve was carried with a unanimous vote in support (one abstention).

Drovers Barn, a traditionally built stone storage building located in Swerford Conservation Area and the Cotswolds National Landscape, first obtained a lawful B8 use by way of a Certificate of Lawful Use in 2017. Arguing that the holiday let would be more compatible with the rural setting than the current B8 storage use, which has potential for heavy vehicle movements and associated disruption, JPPC convinced officers and Members that the conversion aligns with policies in the West Oxfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework, which support sustainable rural tourism and the reuse of traditional buildings.  BNG was avoided by eliminating external changes to the grounds of the site.  Officers will now assess these small changes via a condition compliance application relating to requisite approval of a landscape scheme prior to occupation.

Project Team: JPPC, Nick LeBarre A(client appointed architect) and Paxford (Ecology/BNG)