Partly built ‘house-like’ farm building to be demolished as plans are rejected

A partly built “house-like” agricultural building which is a “blot on the beautiful Gloucestershire landscape” looks set to be demolished.

Ian Greenwood has been refused permission by Forest of Dean District Council for an agricultural building to provide storage, shelter and a workshop for daytime orchard staff near Newent.

The part-retrospective proposals for Herridge Orchards at Pool Hill in Pauntley north of Newent were debated this week.

The applicant said the building, which was designed to have a footprint of 407.8m², was to provide a facility for supporting more intensive growing methods which is a project under development by the applicant in order to supply increased local produce.

The building would have consisted of a propagation preparation area, workshop, machinery storage, bin storage, general storage area, toilet, two covered open areas and a mezzanine floor for light storage, according to the report considered by councillors.

Paul Eastabrook, of Pauntley Parish Council, spoke against the proposals at the development management committee meeting on June 11.

He said the parish council “stumbled upon” the development “almost by chance in 2023.”

“We only became aware of the current development once the work was already substantially underway and after concerned residents brought it to our attention.

“Parishioners and parish council members at the time experienced logistical difficulties in attempting to take good quality photographs but were nonetheless aware the building was being erected in a different location to the plans supplied.”

He also said footpaths are close to the development which has impacted on the landscape as it can be seen from miles around. He said there was no identifiable need for the structure.

Ward councillor Philip Burford (I, Hartpury and Redmarley) said he became aware of the issue when residents and the parish council raised concerns.

He said it does not look like an agricultural building but a house and called on the committee to reject the application.

“It was very evident that the building under construction was not in line with the submitted plans for the agricultural permitted development which was granted in 2020,” he said.

“It’s difficult to see how there is a functional need for an agricultural need for a building on a piece of land that is big enough for the building but doesn’t have any agricultural land attached to it. It’s really out of the way.

“It’s a really beautiful tranquil village and it deserves protection.

“This proposal or the building which is there at the moment is very definitely a blot on the landscape.

“I hope we can move to a rapid reinstatement of the site to its original state and get the building removed.”

Officers recommended rejecting the scheme because it constituted harm on the character of the area due to its prominent location, design and materials.

They said it was an unsustainable form of development without sufficient justification which would result in harm to the character of the area.

Councillor Jacob Sanders (L, Cinderford West) proposed following the officer’s recommendation and this was seconded by Cllr Ian Whitburn (I, Coleford).

Cllr Simon Phelps (I, Westbury-on-Severn) said the agricultural officer’s comments “summed it up admirably”.

“No established agricultural justification for the proposed building,” he said. Chairman Dave Wheeler (G, Newland and Sling) said he agreed entirely.

The committee voted unanimously to reject the proposals.