Pensons Barn 1

Pensons Barn, Worcestershire

The property

Netherwood Estate is a 1,200 acre estate near Bromyard in Herefordshire.

Objective

Our clients wanted to diversify part of the estate. The proposals involved a change of use and sensitive conversion of agricultural buildings and an adjacent yard to create a ‘farm to fork’ destination comprising a variety of symbiotic businesses including restaurant, retail, office and training facilities all combining to champion local produce and provide a destination centre for locals and visitors.

Strategy

The planning input focused on the likely impact on existing retail operators along with the vitality and viability of nearby centres. During office-based pre-application discussions with Malvern Hills District Council, the permitted change of the premises to a retail use as a consequence of Class R of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 was introduced and discussed to effectively mitigate the retail concern.

Throughout, we worked hand-in-hand with Communion Architects to ensure the buildings were converted sensitively and sustainably.

Outcome

Full planning permission was granted in just over 5 months from submission. Pensons Yard now accommodates a one Michelin star restaurant as well as separate office and function space. 

The specialist team involved

To strengthen our case to secure planning permission on this project we worked with the following expert consultants:

  • Architect: Communion Architects
  • Highways/Transportation consultant: Savoy Consulting
  • Structural engineer: Sinclair Johnston & Partners Ltd