Wiltshire Class Q Appeal

Residential Development

Connect Consultants was instructed by the appellants alongside Atlas Planning Group to provide transport and highways evidence for an appeal relating to the proposed conversion of an existing agricultural building near Salisbury into a single dwelling under Class Q permitted development rights.

Wiltshire Council refused prior approval on highways grounds, arguing that the narrow, unlit access track – also a public right of way – could not safely accommodate traffic from the new home.

Our approach was as follows:

• Assessed the access road, public right of way and available passing places.
• Used topographical surveys and swept-path analysis to test vehicle movements.
• Compared visibility and stopping distances with measured traffic speeds.
• Analysed traffic counts, camera footage and use by pedestrians and cyclists.
• Reviewed collision records and tested the scheme against local and national planning policy.

The evidence showed a lightly trafficked route with naturally low speeds and several safe passing opportunities. Visibility was appropriate for measured speeds, and the Council confirmed that no personal-injury collisions had been recorded in the study area since 1999.

With only six to eight additional vehicle movements expected each day, the proposed home would have no material effect on the route’s character, operation or safety.

The Outcome

The appeal was allowed. The Planning Inspector rejected the Council’s highways objections, confirming that transport and road safety concerns did not justify withholding approval.