Danecroft Riding Stables 1A Vera Lane Digswell Welwyn AL6 0EW

Application No. 6/2019/3135/FULL
Conversion of barn into 1 x dwelling
At Danecroft Riding Stables 1A Vera Lane Digswell Welwyn AL6 0EW

CPRE Hertfordshire object to this application for residential development in the Green Belt.
The documentation accompanying the application describes the most recent use as both agricultural and equine, though the history clearly confirms the use of the site as equine. Given the removal of the mobile home from the site and proposed conversion of the barn/stable block, it is not clear what the current use is. Consequently, in our view, this application is for change of use, though that is not stated in the documentation.
Conversion of the barn to residential will introduce a domestic use in the Green Belt. We accept that the conversion of the existing building is not inappropriate under NPPF 145(c) which allows for the alteration of a building provided that it does not result in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the original building.