Project Overview
Bell Cornwell’s Exeter office helped to secure planning permission to convert two large agricultural buildings into employment use (light industrial and/or storage) and to change the use of an external yard to storage use, within Use Class B8.
East Devon District Council
Following pre-application engagement with officers of East Devon District Council, Bell Cornwell presented the case that the proposed development was an acceptable rural diversification scheme that would complement the agricultural operations on the wider agricultural holding, without harm to the landscape setting.
A key part of the planning argument was the provision of much-needed employment floorspace and the benefits to the local rural economy. A fallback argument was also used, demonstrating that the existing buildings benefitted from permitted development rights that could establish some employment use on the site.
As part of the planning application submission, it was necessary to demonstrate that the amount of traffic likely to be generated by the development could be accommodated on the local highway network without affecting road safety.
The site is now being marketed locally as Houndbeare Business Park and is almost fully let.
