A revised plan has been submitted to Test Valley Borough Council to convert an 18th-century barn in a village near Andover into a unique wedding venue, following the withdrawal of the original application in December 2023.
The new application seeks to repurpose New Barn, a Grade II listed threshing barn in Wherwell, from its current use as storage into a venue for weddings and events.
The plan also includes associated works such as the creation of a parking area, landscaping, and the removal of overhead power lines, which will be replaced with underground cabling to enhance the site's aesthetics.
New Barn, located on New Barn Lane, is surrounded by estate-owned farmland and woodland.
READ MORE: Plans submitted to convert 18th century barn into wedding venue
The application says the barn has undergone significant alterations in the 1960s and 2010s.
Despite these changes, the resubmitted proposal says it is a "light touch" approach, ensuring that the barn retains its historic character while adapting it for modern use.
A previous but similar planning application submitted last year was withdrawn in December to allow for detailed ecological surveys to be conducted.
These surveys, including a preliminary ecological appraisal and a bat emergence survey, have now been completed and are part of the new submission.
Key features of the proposal include the insertion of glazed screens behind existing barn doors, replacement windows, and the application of render to existing concrete blocks.
The plan also introduces a "pod" within the barn's structure, designed to help functionally separate the venue's space during weddings, allowing the ceremony area to be prepared for the reception while guests enjoy the bar and entertainment.
The new application says the council officer has raised no objections to the barn’s conversion because of the "minimal impact on the historical integrity of the building".
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The officer's only concern in the previous application was related to the siting of the proposed pod.
The updated plans show that the pod will be contained within the older wing of the barn and will be designed in a way that preserves the legibility of the building’s historical phases.
To read more about the planning application, search with reference numbers 24/01688/FULLN and 24/01689/LBWN on Test Valley Borough Council's planning portal.
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