Plans to build eight homes on farmland approved

Permission has been granted for farm buildings near Hereford to be turned into eight homes, despite several objections.

The Hartland family applied to convert three large sheds, two of them adjoining, at Burcott Farm, immediately north of the A4103 Roman Road.

Nearby residents had expressed concern over their privacy being affected, as well as the impact of extra traffic.

But Herefordshire Council planning officer Jack Dyer said that if anything, the development was likely to benefit them.

The conversion will be made under what are known as permitted development rights, allowing farm buildings to be turned into homes, under certain conditions, without the need for full planning permission.

Planning officers concluded the farm's proposal meets those conditions.

Plans accompanying the bid show the eight new homes, all single-storey, will have open-plan kitchen dining and living areas and either three or four bedrooms, each naturally lit.

Neighbours Sandra Kucinskaite, Santiago Dominguez Vivero and Jacqui and Colin Farr had jointly objected to the scheme, also expressing concern about "a lot of noise, dust and pollution" from traffic to the new houses.

They also questioned whether the busy nearby roads could accommodate extra traffic, but county transport officers made no objection.

But Mr Dyer said that having visited the site, he disagreed with the neighbours' claims.

"If anything, there is likely to be a reduction in noise, dust and pollution as a result of the change of use from agricultural to residential use," he concluded.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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