Couple planning home conversion on Bolton-by-Bowland farm

Meregill Farm, located in Tinklers Lane near to Bolton-by-Bowland, consists of a farmhouse with a mix of traditional and modern agricultural buildings.

The application building is a brick structure to the south of the farmyard.

The applicants, Thomas and Sheila Binns, currently live on a tenanted farm nearby but have taken over the running of Meregill Farm alongside their own.

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They are looking to convert one of the agricultural buildings into a home for them so they can support Sheila’s mother and continue to run the farms together.

A design and access statement submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council said: “Planning permission is sought for the conversion of the traditional single-storey agricultural building of brick construction with a blue slate roof, located south west of the farm house.

“At the south-west corner an extension is to be formed between two parts of the building to provide a connection between the two areas of living accommodation.

“In terms of materials, the proposed replacement extensions would be in brick, with a blue slate roof, to match the existing building.

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“The proposed development provides a sustainable form of development; providing a new dwelling through the re-use of an existing building in an accessible location adjacent to the public highway and in proximity to a range of public rights of way.

“It is understood that the original use of the building was as stables for farm working horses that would have pulled the agricultural machinery, as well as for cattle. By the 1960s, the work horses would have been replaced by tractors.

“From the 1970s onwards, the building continued to be used for cattle and also for the storage of animal feed. In more recent years, the building has only been very lightly used for agricultural storage.”