Minsted farm can't be used as house - planners ruling
A major village controversy over the use of part of a building at a former poultry farm as a house was finally resolved when planners ruled it could not be a permanent home.
Strong objections to an application for a certificate of lawful development were made by Stedham with Iping Parish Council, which presented a submission disputing the length of time the property was claimed to have been inhabited.
After considering detailed reports, Chichester District Council's northern area development control committee decided, on the basis of the submitted evidence, it was not satisfied the building, at Stedham Poultry Farm, Minsted, had been used as a home for at least four years prior to the application. As a result, it voted to refuse the application, submitted by Ian Brewer.
Objectors claimed there had not been someone living permanently in the building for the five years claimed by the applicant.
But councillors heard there had been 36 representations in support of the application, maintaining Mr Brewer had been living there since summer 2005.
Planning officers recommended a certificate should be granted, and said their conclusion was on the 'balance of probability' the residential use had taken place for the requisite period of time – at least four years.
But parish council chairman Chris Morgan urged the committee to refuse it on the basis the application 'lacked any credibility'.
Andrew Frost, assistant director of development management, said there was a 'weight of evidence' in support of the applicant's case, but only very limited evidence opposing this position.
Council solicitor Nicola Golding asked the committee: "If we are going to refuse this, what evidence do we have to take to a public inquiry to contradict the evidence of the applicant?"
The applicant had several third parties who it must be assumed would give evidence at the inquiry.
"What evidence have we got that could be given on oath?" she asked.
But councillors stuck to their line and refused the application by eight votes to three.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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