Plans to convert a Grade II listed County Durham barn into a residential property have been approved by the council.

The barn, part of the Hunstanworth Farm complex in a conservation area and national landscape, will undergo alterations, including the installation of new timber windows and doors, replacing the existing corrugated metal roof with natural slate, and adding eight heritage-style roof lights.

Public response to the initial proposal was mixed.

Supporters appreciated the revitalisation of a deteriorating building, considering it respectful to the village’s historical fabric.

Objectors, however, raised concerns about modern elements like aluminium windows, fearing they might clash with the village's Gothic Revival architecture.

A black-painted metal flue will also be added to the southeast roof slope.

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The development must adhere to Policy 44 of the County Durham Plan and Part 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which focuses on conserving historic assets.

Before installation, details for external elements such as gutters, pipework, windows, doors, and landscaping must be submitted and approved.

There is also a requirement to protect bat habitats, with conditions ensuring work adheres to ecological mitigation strategies.

An original proposal, which included a flat-roofed extension and aluminium windows, was objected to and later removed from the design.

Revised plans focus on minimal external alterations, especially to the building’s window and door arrangement and roofing materials, maintaining the historical aesthetic.

After revisions, the design was deemed sensitive and appropriate for the historic context.

The inclusion of conservation-style roof lights and natural slate roofing was approved, with a key aspect being the avoidance of major extensions or unsympathetic alterations to the barn’s original structure.

This proposal is for the conversion and extension of an existing agricultural building into a multi-generational home.

Buildings that the application concerns have not been used for agriculture or storage since 2004.