Office plans get the go-ahead Convenor: ‘We can expect to see more of this’
Planning permission has been granted for an outbuilding at Auchmuirbridge to be extended to form a home office and gym.
Planning convener Roz Mcall told the committee she expected to see an increase in similar conversions as more people work from home.
The plans were unanimously approved by Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee on Tuesday, June 1.
Andrew Megginson Architecture launched a planning application for works at West Feal Barn on behalf of applicants, Martin and Mandy
Smith, to PKC in March 2021.
The plans submitted included changing the use of agricultural land to garden ground and extension to an outbuilding currently used as stables and storage.
The proposal was to extend the outbuilding to form ancillary accommodation comprising of a storage area, gym, home office, seating areas and kitchen.
There were also plans to extend the house and add a sunroom.
A total of 14 representations were made to PKC including one from Portmoak Community Council.
Concerns were raised about the design and use of the building and traffic.
PKC’s report of handling said the scale, design and finishes of both the alterations to the outbuilding and the extension to the house were acceptable and complied with PKC’s planning policy.
A planning condition was added that the extended outbuilding only be used as ancillary accommodation to the main house and not be let, sold or occupied separately from the main house.
Any business done in the building is to be limited to homeworking “with no material use of the facilities by parties not residing at the property.”
The report of handling said any impact of construction traffic was a “temporary consequence.”
SNP Strathallan councillor Tom Gray moved for approval.
Liberal Democrat Perth City
Centre councillor Willie Wilson seconded saying he was content this building was ancillary to the main house.
Convener and Strathearn Conservative councillor Roz McCall said: “I think we are going to see more of this.
“Many of us have been working from home due to COVID restrictions.
“I think many people are going to be looking at ways where they can look at their own space and their own living accommodation and work out how they can have space to work from home and make it just that little bit more separate from putting a computer out on their kitchen table.”
The plans were unanimously approved.