Class Q Barn Conversion Appeal - Six New Homes in Beckington, Frome

Key Skills: Class Q

Agricultural Buildings

Highways and parking

Planning Appeal

Category: Prior Approval

LPA: Somerset Council

The Project

This project required considerable perseverance. We had previously secured Class Q prior approval for the conversion of two agricultural barns to dwellings, together with permission for a new agricultural building and the enclosure of two remaining barns.

Once the works to enclose the two final barns was complete we sought prior approval to convert these barns to provide six new homes. The first application was refused. Rather than simply resubmitting the same case, we looked carefully at the Council's concerns and submitted a second application supported by a detailed Transport Statement to address the highway concerns and a relevant local appeal decision to demonstrate that the retained agricultural building would not harm residential amenity. When the Council refused the application again, we took the case to appeal.

At appeal we drew together the different strands of the site's planning history, the previous Class Q approvals, highways evidence and the relationship between the proposed homes and the continuing agricultural use. The appeal was allowed in September 2026 and prior approval granted for all six dwellings.

A particularly satisfying result after a lengthy process, demonstrating the value of persevering with a strong scheme, responding to each issue raised and exploring every available planning argument to achieve a successful outcome.