CONCERNS were raised at a Cornwall Council meeting about a bid to convert a shed, which was built for supposed horticultural use, into a home.

A planning committee heard on Monday, October 14, that the building had actually been used illegally as a wedding venue in the past and was the subject of a number of enforcement actions.

Travis Stephens had applied to the council to convert the redundant barn – which some councillors claimed was more like a shed – into a dwelling with the installation of ground-mounted solar panels at Trevoole Farmhouse, Trevoole, Praze‐An‐Beeble, near Camborne.

Cornwall Council’s planning department deemed the building suitable for conversion with any work required not causing any harm to the landscape. It recommended approval.

However, Crowan Parish Council was not happy with the application, stating: “The wooden shed was originally built for horticultural use. It did not receive planning permission, but presumably would now be deemed a permitted development due to its longevity. There is no evidence known to the council that it was ever put to horticultural use.

“The council is aware that the structure has been used for weddings and other social functions and believes that is it not suitable for that purpose. The wooden shed was not designed for residential use and remains unsuitable for it. The council believes that granting this application will essentially allow the creation of a new dwelling in the countryside, contrary to the parish council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan and Cornwall Council’s own rules.”

John Chapman, agent for the applicant, argued that the building could be converted easily to provide a modern, energy efficient dwelling.

Loveday Jenkin, the Cornwall councillor for the area, added: “This was a building that was built with no planning permission in 2014 and has, to local knowledge, never been used for horticulture in spite of a certificate of lawfulness granted in 2020. It has been used for occasional residential and weddings, which was the stated aim of the owners when they put it up without planning permission. It has had an interesting planning history.”

She stressed its use as a wedding venue was illegal and had been the subject of a number of enforcement actions in the past.

Cllr Jenkin added if approval was granted it would essentially be creating a new building in the countryside, which would be against policy as it was not in a sustainable location. “The only rationale for it being there is for horticultural use and that use has ceased.”

Cllr John Thomas said “I just don’t like it” and moved refusal. He was pressed for a reason and said – with a little help from planning officer Martin Broomhead – it would represent unsustainable residential development in open countryside. Refusal was carried.