Permission in Principle (PiP) is being sought to build up to nine homes of “exceptional quality” on a brownfield site in a village near Bath.
The application submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council seeks to establish the principle of converting the site at New Willow Farm at Wellow into a housing development.
There are currently disused dairy buildings on the site at Littleton Lane and one large building that was previously used for car repairs.
The application says that over the years, changes to farming operations and modern practices have resulted in the buildings becoming either surplus to requirements or no longer fit for purpose.
They have not been maintained for a number of years and the site is described as being “untidy”, impacting on the character and quality of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Back in 2016 a planning application was submitted to the council to redevelop the farmyard and buildings for up to 12 homes.
This was refused and later dismissed on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of the proposed layout and design.
The inspector observed however that “a modest development of this nature by comparison with a highly prominent farm complex comprising large utilitarian agricultural buildings together with commercial and other buildings and outbuildings would have the potential to represent an enhancement of this part of the AONB as well as the setting of the Wellow Conservation Area”.
The deadline for comments on the PiP application is Tuesday 15th April. The planning reference is 25/00805/PIP.
