Extension to 180-Year-Old Farmhouse in Protected Area Approved Despite Local Objections

AN extension to a farmhouse thought to be at least 180 years old and in a protected area has been approved despite local objections. 
Councillors approved the application for the two storey extension to the side of the farmhouse named Lower Glyn Farm in the open countryside beside a common at Devauden and within the Wye Valley National Landscape area of outstanding natural beauty. 
Planning officer Phil Thomas told Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee the site is surrounded by public rights of way but there was no objection from its rights of way officer. 
He said officers considered the extension, which will reach slightly below the roof level of the existing building, to be “modest” and “subordinate” to the existing building in line with the council’s policy. 
He said: “The building is not listed but is an old building and of somewhat local importance.” 
A report for the committee said the extension should be “carefully considered” as the farmhouse can be seen on maps dating from 1846, but it is likely to date back further and is “a traditional Monmouthshire farmhouse and considered to be an exceptional example of its type”. 
Devauden Community Council had objected to the application, by Mr and Mrs M Lewis, and the area’s county councillor, and committee member, Rachel Buckler said she didn’t believe it was in a position to make a decision. 
The Conservative councillor said: “I do have serious concerns about this application and the way it has been assessed. It’s not an ordinary dwelling it’s an exceptional example of a traditional Monmouthshire farmhouse located within the Wye Valley National Landscape meaning there is a very high bar for an extension.” 
The extension would change the linear farmhouse to having an L-shape roof at its end, which Cllr Buckler said was significant. 
The councillor also said she was concerned about access to footpaths and claimed people have been discouraged from walking in the area and didn’t believe the committee should make a decision due “enforcement issues” she claimed related to the property. 
She said signs to beware of dogs had been put up along the footpaths which have discouraged use. 
Planning officer Mr Thomas said the committee had to consider the application before them and said he couldn’t comment on the enforcement issues. 
The application was approved with 10 members voting in favour, three against and one abstention. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​