Latest case studies

The applicants had tried to obtain planning permission for a second agricultural workers dwelling at their West Overton farm for a family member to live in. The dwelling was to replace a mobile home that had occupied the site for many years however the Council were now threatening enforcement action.

All applications for agricultural workers dwellings are complicated. They need to be presented to the local planning authority with a strongly set out case in the supporting statements. This proposal was for a third dwelling at this dairy farm and as such the challenges were even greater.

RCC has attained planning permission for a wide variety of agricultural projects. One of the largest and most complicated of these projects was a new dairy building, which incorporated robotic milking facilities.

This site was the main warehouse and distribution premises for the Devizes based brewery Wadworth & Co Ltd, containing workshops and stabling for shire horses. RCC became involved in this site to act on behalf of the brewery who intended to reorganise their activities and operations whereby the main site would become redundant as a result.

Sixpenny Nurseries have a small group of nurseries in Wiltshire. Their lease in Devizes was ending and new premise was a priority. RCC discussed possible options with them but a number of possible sites raised issues concerning the potential impact of the proposed use on traffic and residential amenity of an area.

RCC was asked by the architects for this job (PKA Architects) to assist them by submitting a planning application for a farm diversification proposal. The proposal, on a dairy farm, was to establish a micro ice cream factory within an existing small agricultural building whilst then building an additional linked building to house a café.

RCC was approached by a farmer from outside of Devizes who wanted to create a golf driving range as part of a farm diversification project. It was clear straight away that, whilst this was an excellent business proposition with little competition in the local area, it would raise a number of difficult planning issues, including possible; highways impact, ecological impact, landscape impact and light pollution.

Whitehall is an extremely popular and successful garden centre near the historic and attractive National Trust village of Lacock. It has successfully grown on an ad hoc basis since 1968 and remains in the ownership of the Self family.

RCC was approached to discuss a number of options at a recently purchased property within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The key project was to create an outdoor riding arena

RCC were requested to provide planning consultancy services to create a brand new livery yard on a ‘greenfield’ site where there were no existing buildings or structures. The client had bought the site knowing it had previously been subject to the refusal of a planning application for a nine-hole golf course and driving range with the subsequent planning appeal also being dismissed.

This large scale equestrian proposal involved the change of use of Buryhill Farm (a former dairy farm that was no longer operational) to a livery and riding centre for Rein & Shine.

In 2013 the Government introduced new permitted development rights to allow office buildings to be converted to residential use. This was for an initial temporary period of 3 years but they subsequently made the new rights permanent in 2016.

RCC was brought on board by PKA Architects when they were approached by a developer proposing a mixed use development on a vacant site in Devizes town centre. The site accommodated a single storey clinic building and car park but historically there would have been a building on the main road frontage

RCC were approached regarding the possibility of attaining planning permission for an additional dwelling in the garden of our clients’house. It was an extremely timely approach, as Wiltshire Council was in the process of changing their local planning policy document.

This proposal related to an old farm yard site near the centre of the attractive village of All Cannings. It consisted of two pleasant traditional brick buildings and other more modern utilitarian buildings.

RCC has been involved in numerous planning applications for replacement dwellings. With replacement dwellings planners are mainly considering the increase in size of the dwelling, its design, impact on the landscape and character of the area.

RCC were approached by Strakers Estate Agents as the owners of this old petrol filling station (which was now being used for car sales and vehicle repairs) and asked to help with the sale of the site.

RCC worked closely with PKA Architects who were commissioned to design a new classical country house just outside of Marlborough. As shown in the photographs, the site consisted of a complex of farm buildings and a number of houses along the ridge line. 

RCC was asked by the Manton Estate to work with Jeremy Browne Associates on a proposed development in Marlborough. The proposal involved the development of a current council owned open space/play area for housing whilst compensatory open space was provided on adjacent land owned by the estate. 

RCC were approached by the applicants who had tried to attain planning permission for residential development within their garden since 1984. During that time they were unsuccessful with seven planning applications of which three had been dismissed on appeal.