A refused barn conversion application described as a 'visual encroachment' by the Isle of Wight National Landscape has been appealed.

Shaun Clark lodged an appeal over his stalled bid to convert a disused, timber stable building to the north west of Main Road near Chillerton into a 'high quality' unit of holiday accommodation.

His proposed house would have two ensuite bedrooms and an open plan space with a living room, kitchen and dining room.

There would also be two parking spaces next to the building.

The IW Council said the development would be out of character within the rural location.

An appeal statement prepared by Andrew White Planning Consultancy Ltd said: "The appellant’s designers strove to find a balance between providing an attractive holiday accommodation environment for the prospective visitors which promoted the rural landscape whilst at the same time protecting the landscape from insensitive encroachment.

"The appellant believes he has set out a fully reasoned case as to why the principle of this development should be regarded as acceptable and sustainable, that the proposed development is fully in accord with objectives and policies of both the Island Plan Core Strategy and the Isle of Wight National Landscape Management Plan in terms of rural tourist accommodation, design, and protection of the rural protected landscape.

"Finally, the appellant’s evidence clearly demonstrates that his proposal will not necessitate in any loss of the roadside hedge in order to utilise the existing access.

"The access as currently exists is acceptable in terms of highway safety and this negates the Local Planning Authority's objections in terms of the visual and habitat impacts a loss of hedgerow would have resulted in."

In an officer report justifying the decision, the council said: "The proposed development would result in holiday accommodation situated away from services and facilities with limited safe pedestrian access to alternative transport methods, footways and street lighting, which would result in an unsustainable form of development that would be reliant upon access by the private car.

"The development would result in an urbanising development out of character in this rural location.

"The access is unsatisfactory to serve the proposed development by reason of unacceptable visibility."

The council said there was insufficient information given in regards to whether the hedgerow needed to be removed and assessing its value to protected species including nesting birds.