Article credit: DCS Casebook via Haymarket Media
Permission has been granted for the demolition of a farmhouse in Leicestershire to
facilitate the erection of a crematorium and dining hall with an inspector finding that it
was in a suitable location having regard to policies that sought to control development
in the countryside.
Crematorium and dining hall would have an acceptable effect on area character.
Permission has been granted for the demolition of a farmhouse in Leicestershire to
facilitate the erection of a crematorium and dining hall with an inspector finding that it
was in a suitable location having regard to policies that sought to control development
in the countryside.
The site was in the countryside and comprised a wedge of unkempt land within the rural
fringe of a city. Split over two fields, it included a redundant red brick farmhouse dating
to the late 1800’s, which, along with the surrounding buildings, was in a poor state of
repair. The inspector found that the overall scale of the development would result in it
being an occasionally recognisable feature in the landscape. However, it would be well
designed and sensitively sited in an area where urban influences were common. On this
main issue the development would have an acceptable effect on the character and
appearance of the area. Although there was disagreement regarding the methodology
and conclusions of the submitted alternative site assessment, it was common ground
that planning policy did not require such an assessment. Nevertheless, the Council
confirmed at the hearing that it was unaware of any suitable or available sites within the
urban area. Taking into account the overall functional requirements of the facility and
the constraints identified, in this particular case, a countryside location was justified
and, in practical terms, necessary.
Regarding accessibility the inspector found that the evidence focussed on funeral
cortege drive times rather than walking distances for the purposes of site selection.
Although extended drive times may be acceptable for a facility of this nature, it was not
clear that the site lay within a short driving distance of the majority of the community it
was intended to serve. There was no compelling justification for assessing the suitability
of this proposal on the basis of walking distances. The proposal therefore differed from
community facilities such as schools or doctors’ surgeries, where pedestrian
accessibility might be expected. Even in the event that some mourners choose not to
dine, the pre-ceremony, main ceremony, shower/washing, and prayers were likely to
result in a good deal of toing and froing across a number of locations. The proposal
would enable all of these aspects to take place in one location, thus reducing overall
trip generation. Interested party representations made claims that regular funerals can
affect the daily lives and emotional wellbeing of residents. While the inspector took this
seriously he found that the proposal would be sensitive to its immediate and wider
setting