Policy information sourced from the Aylesbury Local Plan

C1 Conversion of rural buildings

Building Characteristics

The re-use of an existing building that is of permanent and substantial construction and generally in keeping with the rural surroundings in the countryside will be permitted provided that all the following assessment criteria are met:

  • Conversion works should not involve major reconstruction or significant extensions and should respect the character of the building and its setting, except in exceptional circumstances where it can be demonstrated that dereliction was the result of severe accidental damage or accidental destruction in the past two years
  • Where the building is suitable for modern agricultural practice it would not give rise to a future need for another building to fulfil the function of the building being re-used
  • The long-term retention of a building that is by reason of its location, size, condition and appearance is harmful to the character of the countryside is not encouraged
  • The redundant or disused status of the building has been demonstrated and the re-use of the building would enhance the immediate setting
  • The existing building is inherently suitable, in terms of its size, design and construction for the intended re-use, and the proposed scheme enables the intended re-use to be achieved without the need for complete or substantial reconstruction
  • The existing building is not located well away from existing settlements and is not located where utilities are not available
  • The existing building is not damaging to the surrounding character by virtue of a utilitarian appearance or cladding in unattractive materials
  • The proposed re-use is of a scale that would not have an adverse impact on its surroundings or the viability of existing facilities or services in nearby settlements
  • Any extension to the existing building included in the proposed scheme is modest in scale, ancillary in nature, subordinate to the main building and necessary to meet the essential functional requirements of the intended re-use
  • Any extension to the existing barn conversion is modest in scale, ancillary in nature, subordinate to the main building, in keeping with the rural character, designed with sensitivity to the host building and will enhance the character and appearance of its immediate surroundings
  • Where the existing building is of designated or non-designated heritage assets or contributes to local character, the proposed scheme would retain significant historical features and not adversely affect the character and appearance of the building or its setting
  • Where any curtilage is required it should not be excessive in size and should relate well to the existing building and landscape
  • The proposed scheme would not give rise to ancillary uses that could not be accommodated within the site and does not include, or would not give rise to, ancillary uses within the site, such as open storage, that would be visually intrusive, and
  • Conversion works should not adversely impact upon wildlife using the structure. If impacts to nesting sites are unavoidable mitigation will be required (see Policy NE1).

Policy information sourced from the Aylesbury Local Plan