WILTSHIRE Council lost out in a dispute over whether a barn can be converted into a house.

The council’s planners refused permission when G Giles applied to convert the barn at Purkini Farm, Stoke Common Lane, in Purton Stoke in 2019.

Planners were not convinced the barn was in solely agricultural use in March 2013. If it was, then Mr Giles would be allowed to convert the barn.

Mr Giles took the matter to appeal and government-appointed planning inspector Stuart Willis said the entire despite rested one whether the barn was part of a farm’s operations.

He visited the farm and building and said while there was evidence of its use in relation to horses and donkeys that would not necessarily mean it wasn’t being used for agriculture.

In his judgement he wrote: “Photographs provided by the appellant said to be of cattle using the building after the relevant date have not been disputed. Furthermore, I have seen nothing to suggest any other uses have been approved or would be more than the minimum.

“There is little to demonstrate, if there were some form of equestrian use, that a mixed use has now become lawful and is immune from enforcement action. Therefore, on the balance of probability, the appeal building is an agricultural building.”

He therefore upheld the appeal and Mr Giles can convert the barn to a house.

But his application to recover costs from Wiltshire Council was refused.