South Hams District Council has rejected plans to convert a stone barn near Dartmouth. The proposal contained detailed plans for a residential care home tailored for local people. A clear vote of eight to one was a strong, decisive statement that this kind of project is inappropriate. Planning agent Lisa Jackson raised alarm bells, cautioning that demanding locals-only occupancy might be the death sentence for the initiative.
The barn conversion project intended to make the historic timber barn into a residence while moving and restoring two additional heritage buildings. Ged Yardy, a local supporter of the scheme, countered that it really would do more good than bad for his community. He remarked, “The design as it stands is perfectly acceptable,” emphasizing the architectural merits of the proposal.
Jackson warned, the heavy limitations set by the local occupancy rules might still kill the project. This is a very high-risk project, and it’s a farm the applicants are operating, so they need all the income streams. You don’t have to put this type of restriction on the table if you want to save this building,” she claimed.
Planning officers then ruled the local occupancy rules were set in stone. The purpose of these restrictions is to lower the large share of second or vacation homes in the community. This rigid approach to occupancy caused a surprising amount of opposition from Jackson himself, and members of the working group.
Committee chair Mark Long voiced his doubts about the application, stating, “There is a scheme to be delivered here, but I don’t think this is it.” His comments drew attention to a long-standing conflict between protecting local historic value and artifacts while addressing the needs of the community with contemporary buildings.
Council’s choice puts the future of the barn—and possible conversion to a new brewery—back in limbo. Local residents and stakeholders are currently working in hopes of finding a better solution. They are trying to strike a balance between fulfilling the council’s very rigid occupancy requirements and maintaining the historical integrity of the building.
