According to the applicant's Design & Access Statement, 'the barn historically was a Blacksmiths shop but has been used for many years as an engineering business alongside the adjacent more recent modern style shed building’. However, on the Devon Heritage Gateway site, the building is listed as a workshop, and development is not permitted by Class Q if 'the site was not used solely for an agricultural use as part of an established agricultural unit', a fact the applicant has acknowledged.

The Society therefore believes the Case Officer should consider requesting an updated Design and Access Statement from the agent in order to correctly assess the proposal.

The application has since been withdrawn.