The National Trust has applied to reroof the Grade I-listed Great Barn at Gawthorpe Hall.

An application has been submitted to Burnley Council for Listed Building Consent to repair the historic building.

The building in Padiham is 420 years old and has been closed to the public since 2008.

Originally designed for agricultural storage, the barn still retains elements of its original structure, notably the roof.

While it has received several temporary repairs, comprehensive works are now said to be imperative to safeguard the barn's future.

A £1.2 million investment is anticipated for the reroofing of the Great Barn, coach house, and toilet block at the site.

Heritage craft skills will be used to mend the roof and timber rafters to halt rainwater from leaking through.

Since its construction, the barn has served various purposes, including hosting exhibitions and providing an indoor training facility for Burnley Football Club.

General manager for the National Trust's Lancashire portfolio, Vicky Blane, said: "As a conservation charity we want to look after historic places for future generations to enjoy.

"We're keen to work with the local community and partners to shape how the Great Barn is used in the future."

The Great Barn is home to a colony of brown long-eared and pipistrel bats that breed and hibernate in the barn every year.

The National Trust is partnering with ecologists to create plans that ensure the conservation work does not disrupt the bats.

Kirsten Warren, the National Trust’s assistant director of operations for the North West, said: "This new investment highlights our commitment to Gawthorpe Hall.

"The project can kickstart the development of a new long-term vision for the site.

"In the coming years, we want to enhance the experience that the visitors and the local community receive across Gawthorpe."

If the application is approved, work is expected to start once the funding is available.