A FARMER wants to build a new shed to house livestock that would be left homeless when their existing shed is converted into a house.

Durham County Council has received a planning application for an agricultural shed on grazing land opposite Eden Terrace, Kirk Merrington.

Agent Craig Berry, of Middlesbrough-based Harkin Associates, said the building will be needed because the barn currently rented and used has been awarded planning permission for conversion into a house.

The tenant has been given the required notice to quit the site by the owner and wants to provide shelter for cattle when they are not grazing in a nearby field.

The 300 sq m building would be 7.63m high to the roof ridge, livestock would be kept on the ground floor and it would and have a partial mezzanine floor to store hay and feed, accessed from an opening in the wall at a high level and an internal stair.

If approved, it will be built from local stone and clad in timber and have a fibre cement sheet roof with roof lights.

Mr Berry said the shed would be accessed from an existing gate, it would be similar in style to other agricultural buildings along the road and all areas affected by the work would be made good.

A decision is expected to be made by the end of January.