[2024] UKUT 0414 (LC)

Fecha: 20-Dic-2024

History of non-agricultural use and planning consents

History of non-agricultural use and planning consents

13.

Mr Screech gave evidence on the history of the application site and its occupation for business use, culminating in planning permissions granted by Buckinghamshire Council (“the Council”) in 2022 for conversion to offices and, separately, for redevelopment as offices. The key events concerning non-agricultural use are summarised below:

1999	Egg farm business ceased. Shed A partially converted to offices and meeting rooms, with the installation of windows and provision of a new light grey metal roof. Remainder of shed A used for archival file storage.
2005	Office use of shed A ceased following unsuccessful application and appeal for retrospective permission, refused principally on highways grounds.
2006	The Dean family business merged with another egg production and packing company to form Noble Foods.
2009	Exploratory correspondence between Peter Dean and Don Hunt regarding proposed improvement of a shared access at the south west corner of Beeches Farm and potential release of the covenant to regularise non-agricultural use
2016	Noble Foods IT team moved into the offices in shed A. The Dean family office moved into new office space created in the former storage area in shed A. Those occupations have continued to the present day.
2019 - 2022	Applications to achieve lawful development certificate for storage use in shed B and part of shed A, change of use from storage to flexible business use under class B8, together with retention of office use in part of shed A.
25 May 2022 (22/01238/APP)	Planning approval for demolition of redundant buildings and external works to sheds A, B and D to provide replacement roofs, in black finish with rooflights in the ridge, and full height windows between sections of black stained larch cladding. Known as “the conversion scheme”.
18 Oct 2022 (22/02399/APP)	Planning permission for scheme of demolition and redevelopment to form rural enterprise and business hub (use class E) comprising two single storey office/business units which in part exceed the covenanted height restrictions, with single storey link building. Known as “the redevelopment scheme”.
Jul – Dec 2023	Approval of non-material amendments and discharge of surface water and lighting conditions relating to the redevelopment scheme.
April 2024	Permission for new access to Beeches Farm from the main road.