The Southern Area Planning Committee scheduled a meeting to discuss planning appeals, updates, and consider planning applications. The committee was also scheduled to review the minutes from the previous meeting held on 9 October 2025. One planning application regarding the demolition of an existing dwelling and garage and replacement with a new dwelling was set to be discussed.

Planning Application: The Old Vicarage, Coombe Bissett

The committee was scheduled to consider a planning application for The Old Vicarage on Homington Road, Coombe Bissett, Salisbury. The application, submitted by The Walker Family, requests permission for the demolition of the existing dwelling and garage, and the construction of a new dwelling as a self-build project. The plans also incorporate associated works, including landscape treatment, infrastructure, and vehicle parking.

According to the report pack, the key issues for consideration included:

• The principle of development, including self-build aspects.
• Design, scale, and heritage, along with the impact on the Cranborne Chase National Landscape (CCNL).
• Amenity impacts, including trees.
• Ecological impact, including the River Avon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and nutrient neutrality.
• Parking and highway safety.

The report pack noted that Coombe Bissett and Homington Parish Council supported the application, while WC Highways had no objections subject to conditions. However, WC Ecology raised concerns regarding out-of-date ecological surveys. WC Conservation had no objections, subject to conditions.

The report pack stated that the council's ecologist objected to the application on the grounds of out-of-date ecological surveys. The report pack quoted the ecologist:

The further survey work recommended within the submitted report, including appropriate additional roost inspections, bat surveys and reptile surveys, must be completed and submitted for review by the LPA's ecology team prior to determination. The results should confirm the current status of the bat roosts and may necessitate revisions to the proposed mitigation and enhancement measures, which must be updated and secured accordingly. I therefore maintain a holding objection until all the issues listed above have been suitably addressed.

The report pack stated that planning officers were recommending that the application be refused.

Planning Appeals and Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on planning appeals. According to the Appeals Report, there were two appeals received between 26 September 2025 and 31 October 2025:

• Flint Cottage, Netton, Salisbury: An appeal against the refusal to permit the demolition of an existing garage and the erection of a two-storey detached dwelling.
• 91 Bingham Road, Salisbury: An appeal against the refusal to permit the installation of an air source heat pump.

The committee was also scheduled to note the outcome of two appeals decided between 26 September 2025 and 31 October 2025:

• 15 Water Street, Bulford, Salisbury: An appeal against the refusal to grant a certificate of lawfulness for the siting of a caravan within the curtilage¹ was allowed.
• 40 The Borough, Downton, Salisbury: An appeal against the refusal to permit the erection of a new dwelling was dismissed.

15 Water Street, Bulford, Salisbury

The appeal concerned a certificate of lawfulness for the stationing of a caravan to be used for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse. The planning inspector, Richard S Jones, allowed the appeal, issuing a certificate of lawful use or development. The inspector's report stated that the council had refused to issue a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) because the application failed to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the proposal would not constitute operational development² or a material change of use³. The inspector stated that:

The appeal must therefore be assessed on the basis of the stated purpose and not what might potentially occur. If the appellants were to permit the use of the structure for any uses that were not incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse, that may result in a material change of use for which planning permission would be required, so the Council would retain control in that regard.

An application for costs made by Mr and Mrs Noel Claydon-Swales against Wiltshire Council was refused.

40 The Borough, Downton, Salisbury

The appeal was against the refusal to grant planning permission for the erection of a new dwelling. The planning inspector, H Nicholls, dismissed the appeal.

The main issues identified were the effects of the proposal on:

• The character and appearance of the site and surroundings.
• The heritage significance of the Grade II listed building, No 40 The Borough and the Downton Conservation Area.
• The living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, with particular regard to privacy.
• The River Avon Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
• The New Forest Special Protection Area, New Forest Special Area of Conservation and New Forest Ramsar Site (the New Forest Protected Sites).

The inspector found the proposal to be harmful to the character and appearance of the area, and that it would fail to preserve the significance of No 40 The Borough and would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the CA. The inspector also found that the proposal would conflict with policy 58 of the Core Strategy which seeks to conserve and where appropriate enhance designated heritage assets and their settings in a manner appropriate to their significance.

The inspector also found that the proposal would harm the integrity of the SAC and New Forest Protected Sites.