Lancs Live
A farmer has been granted permission to build eight new homes close to Blackburn Rovers’ training ground.
Chris Willan will build the development of three, four, five and six-bedroom houses at Brockhall Farm which was previously part of his family’s dairy farming business.
The properties will include three three-bedroom houses, two four-bedroom houses, two five-bedroom houses and one six-bedroom house.
Mr Willan’s application reveals that the level of agricultural activity has reduced at the farm, along with the amount of land needed for farming, which is “no longer considered suitable for modern farming”.
A planning statement prepared by agents Smith & Love states: “The proposed units are to be delivered within the fabric of the existing red brick barns which are now almost entirely redundant for agricultural purposes due to their limited suitability for modern farming.
“The scheme has been informed by the style and vernacular of the original buildings, which due to their features and general form naturally lend themselves to conversion without the need to undertake significant or insensitive alterations which would dilute the ‘model farm’ quality of the structures.
“The buildings are not typical of the traditional stone field barns often found in the Ribble Valley, having been built in red brick in the early 1900s. They were understood to have been used in conjunction with the original hospital site as part of treatment and therapy for residential patients.
“Following the closure of services at the hospital and the redevelopment of the village, the site has been farmed by the applicant. Due to a number of circumstances the level of agricultural activity has reduced, as has the amount of land used in association with Brockhall Farm.
“The site is no longer considered suitable for modern farming practices and therefore an alternative use for sustainable residential development is sought.”
Concerns about access, parking and the potential for flooding further along the River Ribble at Ribchester by Billington and Langho Parksih Council but the council also added that “the farm buildings are in an awful semi derelict state any proposal can only be an improvement on what is on view”.
A large number of residents’ objections were also submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council including those who live in the nearby Larkhill cottages who raised concerns about safety of pedestrians along the single track lane.
One resident said the applicant’s intention to use the private road at the rear of the cottages without liaising with residents “smacks of arrogance”.
“The road itself is becoming severely damaged and with the anticipated building work and a massive increase in traffic this will only accelerate its deterioration,” the resident said.
“So who pays for the upkeep of the road when it becomes almost impassable? Larkhill residents do and I don’t see why we have to fund a development that only the applicant will benefit from.”
In granting permission Ribble Valley Borough Council imposed a series of conditions including the monitoring of any damage to the private road which “will be remedied at the developer’s expense”
Lancs Live
A farmer has been granted permission to build eight new homes close to Blackburn Rovers’ training ground.
Chris Willan will build the development of three, four, five and six-bedroom houses at Brockhall Farm which was previously part of his family’s dairy farming business.
The properties will include three three-bedroom houses, two four-bedroom houses, two five-bedroom houses and one six-bedroom house.
Mr Willan’s application reveals that the level of agricultural activity has reduced at the farm, along with the amount of land needed for farming, which is “no longer considered suitable for modern farming”.
A planning statement prepared by agents Smith & Love states: “The proposed units are to be delivered within the fabric of the existing red brick barns which are now almost entirely redundant for agricultural purposes due to their limited suitability for modern farming.
“The scheme has been informed by the style and vernacular of the original buildings, which due to their features and general form naturally lend themselves to conversion without the need to undertake significant or insensitive alterations which would dilute the ‘model farm’ quality of the structures.
“The buildings are not typical of the traditional stone field barns often found in the Ribble Valley, having been built in red brick in the early 1900s. They were understood to have been used in conjunction with the original hospital site as part of treatment and therapy for residential patients.
“Following the closure of services at the hospital and the redevelopment of the village, the site has been farmed by the applicant. Due to a number of circumstances the level of agricultural activity has reduced, as has the amount of land used in association with Brockhall Farm.
“The site is no longer considered suitable for modern farming practices and therefore an alternative use for sustainable residential development is sought.”
Concerns about access, parking and the potential for flooding further along the River Ribble at Ribchester by Billington and Langho Parksih Council but the council also added that “the farm buildings are in an awful semi derelict state any proposal can only be an improvement on what is on view”.
A large number of residents’ objections were also submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council including those who live in the nearby Larkhill cottages who raised concerns about safety of pedestrians along the single track lane.
One resident said the applicant’s intention to use the private road at the rear of the cottages without liaising with residents “smacks of arrogance”.
“The road itself is becoming severely damaged and with the anticipated building work and a massive increase in traffic this will only accelerate its deterioration,” the resident said.
“So who pays for the upkeep of the road when it becomes almost impassable? Larkhill residents do and I don’t see why we have to fund a development that only the applicant will benefit from.”
In granting permission Ribble Valley Borough Council imposed a series of conditions including the monitoring of any damage to the private road which “will be remedied at the developer’s expense”
