Holiday let approved for old pigsties on greenbelt

CONVERTING former pigsties into a self-contained holiday let would not threaten the surrounding greenbelt, New Forest District Council has decided.

Applicant Mrs Dunn was given the go-ahead for change of use to a one-bedroom unit on land by Smugglers, a Grade II listed building with attached former farm buildings at 8 Sopley in Sopley, near Bransgore, as long as several conditions are met.

The development will involve the installation of glazing to former pig run openings and enlarging existing windows in the former pigsty area. Work will also be carried out to the roof structure.

Case officer Jo Chambers said the proposal, which is located in the greenbelt and Sopley Conservation Area, would preserve the site’s openness and not conflict with policy.

With bats present, the application included replacement roosts. A preliminary roost appraisal and bat activity survey report was submitted with a bat mitigation, compensation and enhancement strategy.

The roost appraisal was among plans which needed to be approved in one of the conditions for the development being carried out.

Another condition states the building must be restricted to holiday let use only.