Exception is made in barn home appeal

A couple have won permission to extend their barn conversion home to care for an elderly relative after councillors waived aside planning rules.

Robert and Ann Bruce had been refused permission for the single-storey extension.

They wanted to alter their home in Habberley Road, Bewdley, to care for Ann's father Jim Barnfield, aged 83. He had previously lived in Wolverhampton but needed help because of mobility problems.

Two planning applications were refused last year because the site stands in the green belt and the property is a converted barn.

Officials had recommended the scheme should be turned down for a third time because they said the creation of an extra bedroom in the property, converted from a former agricultural building, would flout planning policies.

However, councillor Chris Grainger told members of the council's planning and development control committee that Mr Barnfield had already been sharing their home but this had been difficult because of steps.

Mr Grainger said: "The parish council realises there are restrictions on barn applications but we think this is a unique situation and hope councillors will agree."