Decision details

The Committee refused the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).  Reason for refusal: The proposed use of the building as offices and the associated use of the surrounding land including increased vehicle movements and parking of additional vehicles would result in the creation of a separate planning unit and intensification of use of the site above that of the existing domestic stables associated with the dwelling Alvescote.  This would lead to a materially greater detrimental impact upon the rural character and openness of the Green Belt, contrary to the paragraph 3.8 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 'Green Belts' and to Policies GB/1 and ET/7 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework, Development Control Policies, DPD, 2007, which state that planning permission will only be permitted where buildings are capable of re-use without materially changing their character or impact upon the surrounding countryside.  No Very Special Circumstances have been demonstrated to overcome the harm to the Green Belt such as to justify this inappropriate development.