Dales barn conversions appeal is rejected

School rolls in parts of the Upper Dales have fallen dramatically in a generation.

Last year the Government dispensed with the need for planning permission for conversions of agricultural buildings into shops, banks, restaurants, offices, warehouses, hotels and sports halls. But members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) were concerned this would negatively impact on one of the most outstandingly beautiful areas of the country, which includes around 6,000 barns.

Members voted in March to introduce a Direction under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 that will mean there will be a need for planning permission for a change of use from January 19 next year.

Richmondshire District Council and North Yorkshire County Council asked the Minister to quash the YDNPA’s legal move but their pleas have been in vain.

Peter Charlesworth, chairman of the YDNPA, said the decision was “a victory for localism”, adding that the Direction did not mean barns or farm buildings cannot be converted to commercial uses.

“The National Park Authority is very supportive of re-using existing buildings but we - and the Government through its decision - recognise that the special landscape in which these thousands of barns sit means that some proposals still need local scrutiny rather than just ‘going through on the nod’,” Mr Charlesworth said.

Councillor John Blackie, independent leader of Richmondshire District Council, was incensed by Mr Pickles’ decision, describing the rejected appeal as “a defeat for the best interests of the local communities of the Dales”.

“I’m extremely disappointed by the decision of Eric Pickles. I believe he is completely out of touch with the best interests of the local communities we have here in the Dales and that he simply doesn’t understand the complexities of the issues we are facing.”

Coun Blackie said the revoking of the relaxed rules for barn conversions was a missed opportunity to create more, much needed employment opportunities which would give people a reason to live in the area.