District council planners have turned down a scheme to convert an Oxfordshire village barn into a house.

South Oxfordshire District Council planning officers had recommended that the proposal for the redundant building at Court House, in Toot Baldon, be permitted. 

However the planning committee decided that the scheme, submitted by an applicant called P Ardern, would be inappropriate for the area. 

The development attracted some objections from local residents and the parish council. A comment from Toot Baldon Parish Council said: “The Baldons Parish Council objects to P23/S2544/FUL on the grounds that the proposed garage is too large for the plot. The garage represents encroachment on the Green Belt and is out of character with the other buildings, including a Grade II listed building, within this conservation area. The council also supports the objection from other residents concerning loss of their privacy by the development.”

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Toot Baldon barn plan (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) The district council's planning officers said that the benefits would have outweighed the harm.

In their report, it said: “The less than substantial harm to the setting of the listed building and conservation area is outweighed by the public benefit of securing a viable use that ensures that the building is repaired and maintained for the future. 

“There are no technical concerns with the applications, subject to the recommended conditions. Overall, in the planning balance, the benefits of the development outweigh any potential harm. As such, the applications are recommended for approval.”

Despite this, the committee decided to refuse it at the meeting on Wednesday, September 11. 
The meeting heard concerns from a neighbour over the size of the outbuilding. 

In the minutes of the meeting, it said: “Some members reflected that the officers report clearly addressed the concerns raised by the neighbours. Other members were concerned that the proposed garage was too large and overbearing. The committee noted this was an on balance decision. 

“The committee felt the design was formulaic and did not recognise the impact on the neighbour. The committee commented that the applicant owned more land upon which the garage could be located, they were not constrained to this spot.

“As well as recognising the harmful neighbour impact of the garage, the committee noted that the size and massing of the proposed garage relative to the listed building and within the conservation area was inappropriate.”

Even though the full application was refused, the listed building consent was permitted. The minutes added: “The committee was content that in the absence of any objections listed building consent to convert the barn should be granted.”