Plans to turn an old stable into a house in a Yorkshire Dales village have been rejected amid concerns about where the occupants would park.

Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee voted against granting planning permission for the proposal in Gunnerside, Swaledale, at a meeting on Tuesday.

The application would have seen the building known as the Old Stable/Coach House, which is currently used as a workshop, turned into a one-bedroom property for either local occupancy housing or as a holiday let.

The meeting heard there was no space outside the property for parking, but parking spaces had been arranged about 250m away.
Dan Gracey, agent for the applicant, told the meeting: “This is a small and attractive traditional building in the heart of the village. The proposed conversion to residential use is more appropriate than the current workshop use, as it is surrounded by houses. The applicant is offering a perfectly reasonable arrangement for parking.”

Mr Gracey said the applicant was happy for the property to be restricted to local occupancy housing if necessary.
But members supported the officer’s recommendation that the application was rejected after hearing how the Highways Authority had raised concerns about parking.

Committee member Yvonne Peacock said: “I’ve had meetings with Melbecks Parish Council and we have such problems with parking.
“I wasn’t surprised when I read what the highways had said because they have the experience of trying to find routes to prevent people from parking in a way that blocks the road, which then ends up preventing even the school buses getting to school.”

Member Robert Heseltine said the property was too small for permanent occupancy. He added: “This certainly is the classic application of a quart into a pint pot. The design and layout would be inconsistent with recognisable standards required for human habitation. The application is clearly detrimental to the quality of living of the neighbours. “The parking arrangements are totally inadequate and totally inappropriate.”