Plans to convert a County Durham barn into a house have been refused by the council after concerns about the impact on future residents from nearby agricultural buildings were raised.

Proposals aimed to transform an agricultural barn at Horsley Field Farm, Eastgate, into a home under permitted development rights.

This would have involved adding external cladding, new windows and doors, and a small sewage treatment plant.

The barn, measuring 116 square metres, passed size restrictions and structural checks, confirming it could handle the proposed changes.

However, Durham County Council cited potential problems from the barn's proximity to two other agricultural buildings. These buildings, which previously housed livestock, remain standing, with a separate demolition request pending.

The council argued that, if used again for livestock, these barns could lead to noise, smell, and disturbance for the barn's new occupants and also raised concerns about the impact on the barn's windows, which face the west.

Most read

Get the most out of your local news with The Northern Echo Subscribe now and enjoy access for the whole of 2025 for only £25 or enjoy your first six months for £6. Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year.

These windows are close to the adjoining barns and therefore could be affected by the barns' activities.

Durham County Council stated there is no legal way under the current application to ensure the demolition of the neighbouring barns before the residential conversion takes place.

The proposal was also found to be at odds with County Durham Plan Policy 31 and parts of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) concerning design and environmental protection.

Changes to simplify the design to better suit the surrounding landscape were suggested, but these were not enough to secure approval.

The council also considered the impact on the area's visual quality, as the barn is positioned near Grade II Listed Horsley Hall, in an Area of Higher Landscape Value.

Despite no objections from highways, ecology departments, or the public, the proposal was refused on November 25.

The applicant now has six months to appeal the decision, or 12 weeks if the application is classed as a 'householder' application.