Malpas barn conversions need planning permission

Applicants wishing to make the conversions for The Hollies Farm, in Old Hall Street in Malpas, submitted it to Cheshire West and Chester Council on October 24 this year.

It is the third application for the location in 2025 with two previous failing in January and October because of unnatural lights to some rooms, noise impact and the siting of the buildings.

They sought to plough ahead with the proposals without requiring planning permission but on Tuesday, December 16m, planning officer Helen Jameson confirmed it would be needed.

In her report, she said: “The application site consists of two agricultural buildings which form part of a dairy farm.

“The farm holding is accessed via Old Hall Street, near Malpas and also contains several other agricultural buildings and structures that are not the subject of this application.”

She added: “The barns proposed for conversion are both located within close proximity to another agricultural building to the southwest that does not currently have the benefit of planning permission or prior approval for residential use.

“The exact use of this building is unknown, although it is clear that it forms part of the agricultural holding and is in current use (in planning terms) as such.

“Given this nearby building has an agricultural use which could generate significant noise levels, prior approval as to the noise impacts of the proposed development on future occupiers would be required.

“Such noise impacts could be significant, and prior approval for this application would be unlikely to be granted.”

Ms Jameson added that similar issues existed with other buildings close to the intended conversions and that there were other issues with the application.

She added: “The kitchen/dining/living rooms within the proposed dwellings (particularly those of Unit 3 of Barn 2 and Unit 2 of Barn 3 as marked on the proposed plans) would be in the centre of the plan and would receive only borrowed light through openings and adjacencies to other living spaces.

“Although it is noted that rooflights would be provided, it is not considered that the proposed development would provide adequate natural light into habitable rooms of the proposed dwellings.

“The submission of an Internal Daylight and Sunlight report could have provided further clarity as to whether the development complies with the BRE guidelines relating to sunlight and natural light. 

“As such, based on the information provided to date, prior approval for this application would be unlikely to be granted on grounds of inadequate natural light into habitable rooms.”