A couple have submitted plans to convert a disused barn into a family home.
Mr and Mrs David Smalley, who live in Grindleton, own the land where Big Holme Barn is located in Bolton-by-Bowland.
The barn was previously used for farming but has been redundant for a number of years and is no longer suitable for modern farming machinery and methods.
If no use is found soon for the barn, it will likely fall further into disrepair and could potentially become a danger.
Plans submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council would see the barn become a two-storey family home.
On the ground floor, there would be an open-plan family room consisting of a kitchen, dining, and lounge area, a formal living/dining room, a utility room accessed through the kitchen, a boot room/plant room and a guest bedroom with ensuite.
Upstairs, there would be a master bedroom with ensuite, two double size bedrooms, and a family bathroom.
A design and access statement submitted to the council by agents Harrison Architecture said: “We were initially appointed by the client to review the existing barn and agricultural extensions and outbuildings with the aim to provide the client and family with preferably a four-bedroom dwelling, with large open-plan style kitchen, dining and loving, along with a more traditional lounge area.
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“The main views are to the north and east and the aim has been to maximise these views where possible. A key consideration when developing the design proposals was that it is essential to maintain and enhance the character of the original barn and features whilst extending with a sympathetic single storey structure to replace the existing 1950s agricultural extension and maintaining similar building form.”
Work has been undertaken at the adjacent Big Holme Farm in the past, with works carried out to build extensions to the original Big Holme farmhouse.
The statement said: “We feel the extensive works and extensions to Big Holme Farm is typical of the nearby rural properties and provides precedent for large rural family homes with substantial gardens and curtilage.”
The barn was used to keep cattle until around the late 90s but with it now standing empty, the client is hoping to convert it and retire on the estate. They have more than 100 acres of agricultural land surrounding the barn which is rented out through an agricultural tenancy agreement.
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