Land at Wrights Farm, Shillington Road, Pirton, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3QJ

Application No. 19/01275/OP

Erection of four dwellings and conversion of timber barn to one residential dwelling following demolition of existing farmhouse and associated farm buildings (all matters
reserved except access) on Land at Wrights Farm, Shillington Road, Pirton, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3QJ

CPRE Hertfordshire do not object to the bulk of this application. We consider some development on Plots 1,2 and 3 to be acceptable in principle, as they will fall within the
settlement boundary. The conversion of the timber barn (Plot 5) is also acceptable. However, we do have concerns regarding Plot 4.

The Design and Access Statement accompanying the application contains no indication of the intended design of the building on this plot, other than it will be a 4-5 bedroom 2 storey dwelling on the footprint of the existing livestock shed. The existing shed is a single story structure with low eaves. The proposed two storey dwelling will have a more imposing presence and impact on the openness of the countryside and the views from the Right of Way, Footpath 012. Consequently it will be in conflict with Policy 6 of the existing North Herts Local Plan and Policy CGB1 of the Submission Local Plan, both of which now carry significant weight.