A STYLISH modern moorland home and annex has been proposed to replace four "tired" buildings on Green Belt land.

Mark Egan has applied for planning permission for the development on land known as 'Pottery Barn' in Roman Road, Grimshaw, near Eccleshill.

His application to Blackburn with Darwen Council proposes the "demolition of four existing buildings and erection of a family dwelling house and annex including improvements to the existing site access and landscaping".

The half acre site is in protected 'Green Belt' countryside on the West Pennine Moors.

Documents submitted with the application say: "The existing properties on site are presently vacant or underused.

"The buildings present on this site are tired and contribute little to the character of the area.

"The proposed development will provide a purpose-designed family dwelling for the applicants.

"Opposite the dwelling an annex building will accommodate garaging for vehicles, a home office/gym, with flexible accommodation.

"The design of the property will combine traditional elements with more contemporary features.

"There are currently four buildings on the site which are proposed to be demolished: a single-storey workshop; a former mobile home; a single-storey stables; and a single-storey store with adjoining stabling.

"The current development on the application site is visually not very pleasing.

"A proposal for new development would offer an opportunity to enhance the street scene with sensitively-designed residential accommodation.

"The proposed new residential development consists of a detached house with annex under the same ownership, containing a double garage, a storage area for recycling and bins and further ancillary accommodation.

"The annex offers flexible space for the family dwelling. It could be used as office space, either for home working or to run a small business, or provide a self-contained accommodation for intergenerational living.

"It offers independent living accommodation for children as they grow older or temporarily return home, or allows elderly family members living on their own with support nearby.

"The main detached building is L-shaped in form and two storeys in height. It contains four bedrooms.

"The proposed annex is also two storeys in height and set into the hillside on the southern part of the site.

"The two buildings form a central courtyard which leads to the main entrances of both buildings.

"The external appearance and linear arrangement of the building designs is inspired by traditional cattle housing in the North West Region."