Shepton Mallet planning appeal after barn conversions denied

The application to transform agricultural buildings off Church Street, Wanstrow, into residential homes has been denied by planning officers, who said the plans would require new structural elements to the buildings, and questioned access routes.

Applicant Mr Ben Crozier is challenging the decision to refuse prior approval for the proposed change of use. The appeal, reference 6013346, was lodged on July 28 after his initial application was refused by Somerset Council on May 27 2026.

The prior approval application, for the site commonly referred to as Park Farm and Church House Farm, sought permission under Class Q of the permitted development rules to convert three agricultural buildings to residential use.

The scheme proposed one two-bedroom home in a pair of traditional stone barns, four one-bedroom residential units in a timber-framed shed, and two three-bedroom houses in a larger steel-framed barn.

In its decision notice, the council said it was not satisfied that the barns could be converted without needing new structural elements, which would require further planning interrogation.

It concluded that "insufficient information has been submitted in order to satisfactorily demonstrate that the proposed conversion of all 3 no. buildings into 7 no. dwellings can be undertaken without the introduction of some additional structural elements."

The proposed layout at the site, with seven dwellings within the former agricultural buildings. (Image: LSL Architecture)

The second key issue highlighted by council officers was access. The farm is accessed from Church Street via a small triangular green next to St Mary’s Church, which has no known owner and is used informally by the village and churchgoers.

The land is also the subject of an application to be registered as a town or village green.

The council said the applicant had not shown they had "the necessary legal rights or control over the access route" and warned that the shared, informal use, together with the village green bid, created "significant uncertainty as to whether the access would remain available for the proposed development."

On that basis, the authority found the scheme did not meet Class Q requirements for a "suitable existing access to a public highway".

In their submission to the application, Wanstrow Parish Council had recommended refusal, citing access and highway safety, as well as parking provision, neighbour amenity, and ecology concerns.

The site has already seen two similar Class Q applications for residential use refused in 2025 and early 2026, with structural concerns over the barn developments also cited in those decisions.

Those wishing to comment on the appeal, or amend or withdraw previous comments made on the earlier application, can do so on the Somerset Council planning portal, using the reference number 2026/0638/PAA.

Submissions must be made by September 2 2026 to be reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate.