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Barn conversion won on appeal with full award of costs under new rules - October 2009

DLP Planning Ltd (Bristol)  has secured an award of costs under the new appeal rules that came into effect in April 2009 which allowed, for the first time, a claim for costs in cases dealt with by written representations.

The scheme involved the conversion of a barn for use as a residential annex and the change of use of agricultural land to residential curtilage in the Green Belt surrounding Bristol. An earlier scheme, submitted prior to DLP's involvement, had been refused on eight separate grounds. These were subsequently reduced to two with the submission by DLP of an amended proposal with further supporting information.

In allowing the appeal and awarding full costs the Inspector was critical that it had not fully considered the conditions drafted by DLP and had still insisted that the barn be marketed for employment purposes for 12 months in spite of its acknowledged unsuitability for such purpose; not least by the LPA's own highway engineers.