Revised Deposit Plan - Wychavon District Council

6.4.9. In this respect, new buildings, structures and works will be required to be
acceptable in the landscape in terms of their siting, size, scale and design,
including the type and colour of materials. The siting of works, structures and,
in particular, buildings is of prime importance. Buildings should be located so
as to be seen in the context of existing buildings. Skyline sites should be
avoided and landscape features and landforms should be utilised to reduce
visual impact. Proposals should be capable of being provided without
extensive earthworks. A landscaping scheme will frequently be required to
accompany proposals which should help “knit” buildings or works into the
surrounding landscape.
6.4.10. The Council will consider imposing a condition on appropriate planning
permissions requiring the removal of the building if it is no longer needed for
agricultural purposes or if it is considered unsuitable for another appropriate
use. It is likely that such conditions will only be used where the operational
requirements of a farm require a particularly obtrusive building or it would be
sited in an isolated or prominent location.
6.4.11. The sub-division of farm buildings and, in particular, the separate sale of land
and buildings are of particular concern. These can lead to an increase in
demand for new buildings on existing or new holdings, which can have a
significant impact on the landscape and detract from the open nature of the
countryside, particularly on a cumulative basis. Proposals for new
development on “bare” land or on holdings which have sold or found
alternative uses for buildings will be scrutinised thoroughly, and particular
regard will be paid to the impact the proposed development will have on the
landscape. It should not, therefore, be assumed that permission for new
buildings will necessarily be forthcoming. Applicants maywill be required to
demonstrate a functional need for a proposed building which will need to
explain or justify any prior disposal of suitable buildings. The re-use of
buildings for uses to supplement farm incomes, for example, would provide
such a justification.
POLICY ECON8 FARM DIVERSIFICATION
Proposals for farm diversification of land and/or buildings will be
permitted where:
a) the scale and use are appropriate to a rural environment;
b) the activity proposed is compatible with agricultural operations on
the farm;
c) there is no inappropriate open storage of goods, containers, waste
materials, finished products, vehicles or equipment; and
d) for farm diversification proposals within buildings, they they are
accommodated within existing building(s), the conversion of which is
in accordance with Policy RES10. New buildings either to replace
existing buildings or to enable the expansion of an existing
enterprise on the farm will only be approved where the activity
proposed is compatible with agricultural operations on the farm and
cannot be met through the conversion and alteration of an existing
building. New buildings will not be permitted to provide for tourist
accommodation. Where possible, new buildings should be located
so as to be seen in the context of existing buildings. Substantial
permanent new buildings will not be permitted to provide for tourist
overnight accommodation;
d) there is no open storage of goods, containers, waste materials or
finished products; and
Wychavon District Local Plan Revised Deposit (July 2003) Page 149
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