A couple who were looking to turn a disused barn into a two-storey family home have had their plans refused by the council.

Mr and Mrs David Smalley, who live in Grindleton, own the land where Big Holme Barn is located in Bolton-by-Bowland.

The barn was previously used for farming but has been redundant for some years and is no longer suitable for modern farming machinery.

It was said at the time of the application that if no use was found for the barn soon it could fall into further disrepair and become a danger.

Lancashire Telegraph: The proposed ground floor plan for the houseThe proposed ground floor plan for the house (Image: Ribble Valley Borough Council)

Ribble Valley Borough Council rejected the plans on the basis of them going beyond what would be “reasonably necessary” to convert it into a home and that due to its scale, it would look out of character in its rural environment.

A decision notice from the council said: “The proposed extension to the barn building would go beyond what is considered reasonably necessary to facilitate the residential conversion of the barn and such fails to establish the principle of the proposed development.

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“The proposed extension to the barn and detached garage, by virtue of their scale, bulk, massing, and fenestration would result in the introduction of an unsympathetic form of development that would fail to respond positively to the historic character of the barn, being of detriment to the character and visual amenities of the surrounding AONB landscape.

Lancashire Telegraph: The barn could now fall into further disrepair with plans to convert it refusedThe barn could now fall into further disrepair with plans to convert it refused (Image: Ribble Valley Borough Council)

“Furthermore, no public benefits are identified from the proposed development which would outweigh the harm that would occur to the barn which is considered to be a non-designated heritage asset.”

Had the plans been approved, the ground floor would have had an open-plan family room consisting of a kitchen, dining, and lounge area, a formal living/dining rooms, a utility room, a boot room, and a guest bedroom with ensuite.

Upstairs, there would have been a master bedroom with ensuite, two double bedrooms, and a family bathroom.

The council’s decision was made on August 23.

The applicants have 12 weeks to appeal from the date of the decision.