DPDS have successfully achieved outline planning permission at Planning Committee for a dwelling in the village of Foston, South Derbyshire.

Located within a village with no settlement boundary, the application was presented as satisfying the Council’s infill policy.  Comprising part of the residential curtilage associated with a barn conversion within an existing complex of converted barns, the site did not satisfy the traditional characteristics of an infill plot with existing development being located to the north east, open countryside to the west and a major road to the south.

However, whilst not wholly policy compliant, it was argued that the site benefited from a high degree of containment and was considered to be a gap within a small group of housing essentially rounding off the existing extent of the village.  Therefore, on the basis of the site specific characteristics of the site, it was considered as an infill plot.  The scheme was supported by a Flood Risk and Noise Assessment and received no objections from statutory consultees.

The proposal was presented to the Planning Committee with an Officer recommendation for approval and was unanimoulsy approved by Members.