New Agricultural Facility, Knowle

For a Private Client

The proposals are located within the West Midlands Green Belt in open pasture field which is controlled by the strictest of planning policy and measures. The site is also in a sensitive rural location with a green corridor running adjacent in the form of the Grand Union Canal. There was extensive consultation during the planning determination ensuring the protection of this green corridor. Harper Architects acted in the lead role and co-ordinated this successful approved planning application throughout, meaning this agricultural business within Knowle, Solihull can continue to grow and develop.

This application has gained full planning permission for a new gated access, erection of an agricultural building and associated hardstanding. Clustering the proposed building next to the existing residential buildings will reduce the visual impact of the development on the green belt setting. Whilst the building will be visible from wider angle focal points, it will not appear out of place in its rural setting and will be well screened by existing and newly planted vegetation. The proposals remove part existing hedgerow to provide agricultural access to the field with replacement hedgerow elsewhere exceeding that of the amount to be removed. The proposals were assessed under a biodiversity metric which demonstrated that the development was achieving a net gain to biodiversity in accordance with Planning Policy 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).