A family are seeking permission from the council to build three eco-homes on a rural plot in Pendle that has been in the family for 60 years.

Diane and Gary Collier, of Pasture Lane, Barrowford, have submitted plans to Pendle Council to build three family eco-homes and two out-buildings to the southeast of Pasture House in Pasture Lane, Barrowford.

Pasture House is a Grade-II listed building and was the childhood home of applicant Diane Collier, who now lives in a barn conversion next door with sons Jake and Josh and their respective partners Jenna and Carly.

The families, who currently all live together, now want to self-build three eco-homes so they can all remain within the local area, as the two younger couples cannot afford to get on the local housing ladder.

Lancashire Telegraph: The proposed view looking to the south.The proposed view looking to the south. (Image: Zara Moon Architects)

In the plans, it states each ‘forever home’ would be ‘representative of the couple’, with each a three-bedroom home designed to their needs.

Diane and Gary’s home would be fully wheelchair accessible on the ground floor with a downstairs bedroom, plus two first floor guest bedrooms.

Jake and Jenna’s house would have three first-floor bedrooms plus an office, as well as an open plan living area, with Josh and Carly’s having a similar layout, minus an office but with a balcony on the master bedroom.

The homes would be made of local stone and sustainable timber, and also feature solar roof systems, ground source heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation, rainwater collection and batter storage to lessen the houses’ environmental impact.

Low-level farming would also continue on the site; growing food on site and beekeeping, as well as including plant species on landscaped areas and bird and bat boxes to boost biodiversity.

The plans add: “The applicant and her family have a very strong personal and emotional attachment to the site, having called the site their home for their entire lives.

“The site has been the place where they have experienced births, marriages, birthdays, bereavements, and family celebrations together for the last 60 years.

“It is their dream to continue living the rest of their lives here and continue to make more family memories for the future generations of their family.

Lancashire Telegraph: The proposed build-site has been the location of family events and memories for the past 60 years.The proposed build-site has been the location of family events and memories for the past 60 years. (Image: Zara Moon Architects)

“Understandably, sites designated as open countryside would not typically be supportable for new-build dwellings.

“However this is a unique case in which the applicant’s wish to stay living on the site which they grew up, and self-build their own bespoke dwellings on the land in which they own.”

Anyone wishing to comment on the application has until January 6, 2023, to do so.