AN appeal is to be held into the refusal by East Hampshire planners to grant change of use of land and barn to residential use, plus alterations to existing barn comprising extension and demolition, with associated garaging and turning space, at Thedden Farm, Wivelrod Road, Bentworth.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) turned down the proposal on grounds that it would result in the creation of “a new dwelling in the countryside, beyond an identified settlement policy boundary, and for which no overriding justification had been made”, be it as essential need for a rural worker, meeting an identified need for locally affordable housing or optimal viable use of a heritage asset, re-use of a redundant or disused building or betterment to the surroundings, or that the development would be of exceptional quality or the design in any way innovative.

Furthermore, since EHDC is able to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the proposal was considered unacceptable in principle and contrary to planning policy.

The appeal is to be determined on the basis of written representation which should be sent to Lucy Silcocks,The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN, quoting reference number APP/M1710/W/17/3190271 and to arrive no later than January 2.