Planners to decide whether house built on farmland near Dudley without permission should be demolished

Planners will decide whether a house built contrary to planning permission on a farm near Dudley should be demolished.

Andrew Baylis is seeking retrospective planning permission for the three-bedroom house built on the site of a former farm building at Smestow Grange Farm in Smestow Road, Swindon.

A statement issued on Mr Baylis’s behalf said that planning permission was previously granted for converting the former farm building into a house, and to demolish two timber-and-corrugated iron extensions..

“But in implementing this permission, the builder found difficulty with the approved scheme and deviated from the approved plans,” the statement said.

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“Whilst the new dwelling is of good contemporary design the applicant has been advised of the need to regularise the development.”

According to the plans lodged with South Staffordshire Council, the plot covers just over 6,800 sq ft.

The planning statement said the former farm building was to the south of the main farmhouse, and set away from other buildings.

“The building was brick built in part with two portal framed agricultural extensions,” it said. “The buildings were starting to fall into a state of disrepair and needed some maintenance. The building is adjacent a manege and the surrounding fields are a mix of equestrian and agriculture uses.”

Mr Baylis’s statement said the site was in the green belt, where there was a presumption against inappropriate development.

But it said the fact that the council had previously agreed that the building could be converted for residential use demonstrated that the site was suitable.

“The proposal involves the re-use and part reconstruction of a building in the green belt which is of permanent and substantial construction, and the other dilapidated extensions have been removed,” it said.

It added that the new house was similar in scale to the original farm buildings it replaced, and had a contemporary appearance with rendered walls and timber cladding.

The plans will now be considered by South Staffordshire Council which can, if it deems the building breaches planning regulation, order it to be demolished or altered to comply with the law.