Councillors have overruled officers' recommendation to refuse and allowed a farming family to convert a barn so they can remain in the area where they live and work.
Martin Waters applied for the partial change of use of an existing barn to form a small-scale two-bedroom home for his young family at East Trewarlett Farm, Lezant, Launceston.
Cornwall Council's planning department recommended refusal because the application did not meet any of the special circumstances that allow a dwelling in the open countryside, and it was judged to harm the character of the landscape.
However, local member Cllr Adrian Parsons, who is himself a farmer, argued that it would provide a local family with a much-needed home and would not harm the area.
Mr Waters told a meeting of Cornwall Council's east sub-area planning committee today (Tuesday, September 1) that both he and his partner come from farming backgrounds. His partner works with livestock, while he is an agricultural plant engineer who works with farmers in the local community. They have a two-year-old daughter.
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The family use the land at East Trewarlett to farm livestock in small numbers, grow produce, and keep chickens, ducks and peacocks. They currently live in a caravan on the site.
He said they want to live on the farm but in a way that causes minimal impact to the environment, "hence the modest and subtle conversion" of a third of a barn, which they consider would provide ample living space. "We don't want anything extravagant, just something to call home," Mr Waters added.
He said they had been overwhelmed by the support for their application from their community and parish council. "It certainly has made us very much feel part of the community."
Cllr Parsons addressed the sub-committee. "The contribution they make to our rural community is both respected and important. We all understand the challenges local people face in remaining within the communities where they work, where they have family ties and where their roots lie.
"This is precisely why Cornwall Council declared a housing emergency in 2022. Today, more than 800 people remain in temporary accommodation and over 21,000 households are registered on Cornwall Homechoice. These figures are incredibly sobering."
He believed the plan for a modest conversion of part of a barn to provide a two-bedroom family home was not unusual, and said that far bigger, similar applications had been approved in the area. Cllr Parsons argued that any impact on the landscape would be negligible and that it would provide a local family with the stability of a permanent home and a base for their farming work.
During discussion, a concern was raised about the small size of the dwelling, 58 square metres, which was below planning policy guidelines. It was pointed out that it was purely a guideline, with Mr Waters adding it would be sufficient for his family.
The meeting also heard that an enforcement notice had been served on the caravan where the family currently live, but that should not be considered as part of the planning process. The caravan would be removed anyway if the conversion was allowed.
Cllr Robin Moorcroft said he was "going out on a limb" and proposed approval as he didn't think there would be significant harm caused to the local area. Cllr Jane Pascoe seconded, adding that it would be an affordable home for people with local needs.
The vote to approve was won with nine votes in favour, one against and no abstentions.
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Councillors Overrule Advice to Allow Farming Family Barn Home