The Southern Area Planning Committee met to discuss planning appeals and applications, with a significant focus on an application for a change of use of land at Poles Farm, Swallowcliffe. The committee voted to refuse the application at Poles Farm against officer recommendation, citing concerns over its compliance with local planning policies. The committee also reviewed several planning appeals and updates.

Planning Application: Poles Farm, Swallowcliffe

The committee refused planning permission for application PL/2025/03953 for a change of use of land from agriculture to residential, the demolition of existing barns (one of which was retrospective) and the erection of a residential dwelling, a detached car port and store, and a bin store, and associated works at Poles Farm, Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire, SP3 5NX. The reasons given for the refusal were that the development was contrary to core policies CP2, CP51, CP57, and CP58 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, the aims of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape (formerly referred to as the AONB) Management Plan, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The committee's decision went against the recommendation of the Senior Planning Officer, Joe Richardson, who had recommended approval.

The committee felt that the proposed dwelling was too large and not compliant with the council's infill policy, causing harm to the character and setting of the area, despite design changes made in response to a previous refusal.

Several members of the public spoke in objection to the application, including Ms Lyndsay Boothman, Ms Rebecca Rymer, Mr Andrew Wass, and Councillor Amanda Brookway of Swallowcliffe Parish Council. Stuart Miles, an agent, spoke in support of the application. Councillor Nabil Najjar, the Local Division Member, also spoke against the application.

Planning Appeals and Updates

The committee received details of appeal decisions as detailed in the Appeals Report.

The committee noted that appeals for the following applications had been dismissed:

• PL/2024/03203 Land to the rear of the Porton Hotel, Winterslow Road, Porton, SP4 0JU - Construction of three dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping. The appeal for costs was also refused.
• PL/2024/05291 Land Adjacent to Kiln Close, Whaddon, Wiltshire, SP5 3HE - Excavation of former railway embankment, erection of 3 x new self build dwellings, hard and soft landscaping and associated works.
• PL/2024/07405 Land at the rear of 40 The Borough, Downton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 3ND - Erection of a new dwelling.
• PL/2024/10624 Land at The Old Rectory (The Spinney), Tidworth Road, Boscombe, SP4 0AB - Erection of 1 no. self build dwelling.

Members queried if it would be possible to see or have reference to other appeal decisions from around the county rather than just those related to the Southern Area Planning Committee. It was suggested that a list of appeal decisions could be added to the regular planning applications email which was sent to all Members.