Former Dorset piggery to become holiday accommodation
Changes at Bonsombe Farm at Shipton Gorge have been approved
Last updated 25th Apr 2024
A former piggery building on a West Dorset farm is to be converted into holiday accommodation.
The owners of Bonscombe Farm at Shipton Gorge told Dorset Council planning committee members that unless it was converted, there was no longer any use for the building – and holiday income from the building would help support the farm.
The application had been previously approved but came back to councillors because of changes in the planning law relating to areas of National Landscape importance, previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Planning officers had recommended rejecting the planning consent claiming the proposed changes would leave the unit looking out of character and “reminiscent of a suburban park home dwelling”.
But a case officer report concluded that the existing building was “of little visual merit or quality and not considered to be worthy of retention in how it relates to local character as it is not a traditional vernacular stone farm building of the area or with any architectural or historical merit.”
The farm said there would be little impact on the landscape from the conversion and argued it could be seen as an improvement, with no external lighting and the building being masked by surrounding vegetation.
They said: “The existing building, if left without purpose, will fall into disrepair and be more of a blight on the landscape.”
The consent includes a condition which will tie the converted building to the farm and prevent it being sold separately.