Planning consent for farm yard redevelopment

The National Trust Sissinghurst

Project

The National Trust wished to upgrade an existing farm yard at Sissinghurst to provide modern agricultural buildings. The buildings were to be used to enable the tenant farmer to meet modern animal welfare standards, thus allowing the livestock at Sissinghurst to remain within the farm during the winter months.

Background

Despite the best intentions of the National Trust, the planning authority had refused the first application for a replacement yard citing a number of reasons for refusal.

Issues

The main issues revolved around the design and massing of the buildings, their location in a sensitive location, landscaping, ecology and highway safety. The benefits of the scheme included better animal housing and enabling a local farmer to continue to farm the land at Sissinghurst and supply the restaurant with his local produce.

Our Role

Hobbs Parker Property Consultants was appointed to ensure a second planning application stood the best chance of success. As specialists in rural matters, we understood the needs of the tenant farmer and the National Trust. In addition, we could deal with the original grounds of refusal. We brought in external consultants to advise on landscape and highway matters. The design and planning issues were overcome with our specialist advice. Alternative sites were discounted and the case made for the Sissinghurst site to be granted planning permission.

Outcome

Following two planning committee meetings, planning permission was successfully granted in January 2011.