Plans have been lodged with the council for the conversion of a County Durham barn into a residential property.

The proposal, submitted by Tim Sedgewick, aims to transform a redundant traditional farm building at Ricknall Grange Farm, Preston-le-Skerne, into a three-bedroom home.

It will involve altering the existing agricultural structure with changes to roofing and window materials.

The current profile sheet roof will be replaced with blue slate or pantile, and timber-framed windows will be substituted with UPVC and the development will not add extra parking spaces but will utilise an existing hard-standing area.

Proximity to the grade II listed Ricknall Grange Farmhouse adds heritage value to the project, while the traditional river cobblestone walls and brick detailing of the buildings will remain largely unchanged, maintaining their historical relationship.

The proposed conversion aligns with various policies of the County Durham Plan.

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It complies with Policy 10, preserving non-designated heritage assets and restoring their setting, and Policy 39, conserving the landscape's special qualities, mostly screened by surrounding vegetation.

An assessment by OS Ecology Ltd confirmed no biodiversity loss, so no additional net gain is required.

The site, within the Teesmouth & Cleveland SPA/Ramsar area, will mitigate nutrient calculations by 0.22 hectares of new woodland planting on-site.

Heritage considerations were also taken into account.

The barn, which has no intrinsic architectural interest, will be repurposed in line with heritage preservation principles outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Demolition of a nearby post-war barn, under previous approval, will enhance the historic character by keeping the space open for garden use, according to application forms lodged with Durham County Council.

Modifications to the exterior will include original brick details and lime mortar repointing, while the interior will feature new thermal insulation, double-glazed windows, and roof lights to meet current standards.

The planning application is now under consideration by the council.