Dorset Planning: Rural planning decisions across county

The decisions span the county, with applications ranging from new livestock buildings to machinery stores and conversions of farm buildings into homes, offices and holiday lets. The following highlights capture the most significant developments -

Dorset Council approved a series of barn conversions across the county, continuing a long‑running trend of repurposing agricultural buildings. Among these were: Manor Farm Barn, Minterne Magna, where two linked applications were granted for the conversion and alteration of the building into a home, including removal of a lean‑to and a new single‑storey extension.

At Red Barn Cattle Yard, East Morden, permission was granted for repairs and conversion of traditional barns to  homes, alongside demolition of blockwork structures and a replacement garage.

Holway Farm Buildings, Sandford Orcas, approved for the conversion of agricultural buildings into five homes under a prior approval process.

The Shed, Hewletts Drove (Rivers Corner), where prior approval was granted for converting an agricultural barn into a single dwelling.

New agricultural and storage buildings were approved across Dorset include: Dubbins Farm (Holnest), where permission was granted for the erection of a new agricultural building.; Paddock View, Anderson, where councillors approved plans for an agricultural storage barn;  New Barn Farm, Abbotsbury, where a project for the redevelopment of a centralised silage clamp and rationalisation of other farm clamps was granted and at Long Ash Cottage, Milton Abbas, which could still see the construction of a new agricultural storage building after the council decided prior approval was required.

One of the few explicit slurry‑related applications involved Park Farm, Stalbridge Park, where Dorset Council determined that proposed excavation works to form a slurry lagoon with earth banks did not require prior approval, meaning the project can proceed under permitted development rights.

Several farms also sought approval for diversification projects: At Ryme Intrinseca, a field belonging to Caswell Farm at Common Lane was approved for change of use to a secure dog‑walking area; Ruddlemoor Farm, Horton Road, Woodland secured permission for the creation of an ancillary farm driveway, maintaining farm vehicle access and efficiency while Spring Farm, Longburton, received approval for converting an agricultural building into holiday accommodation.