ANGRY councillors have objected to plans to convert a block of stables to a self-contained residential annex at a farm.
They claim the building – built less than nine years ago – has never been used as stables and the new application is an attempt to circumvent planning regulations.
The application has been submitted by farmer John Bryan, of Birch Tree Farm, Appleton who, over the years, has been involved in a number of planning battles with Warrington Borough Council.
This time borough planners are recommending his scheme be approved and the opposition comes from councillors at Appleton.
Coun Brian Axcell said: “The building has never been used for the purposes for which it was built.
“If permission were to be granted for residential use, planning regulations would have been circumvented. Permission would have been gained for something which would certainly have been refused if an application for residential use had been made at the outset.”
Appleton Parish Council says the application is contrary to borough council policy on managing the housing supply which states that conversions of farm buildings for residential development will not be allowed.
Planning officers admit a residential application in 1991 would probably have been refused but say the issue now is for the re-use of a building in the Green Belt.
5 Comments
……..a change of use like…. errr…. perhaps turning a stately home into a hotel? or perhaps a tea room into a pub?. Funny how rules can be broken when it suits eh?
These councillors are a bunch of self serving pigs who deserve nothing but contempt. Maybe at the next election, a campaign of change is needed….. vote for anyone who isn’t your current councillor! Good luck Mr Bryan!
Baz.
Bryan has several such buildings and from day 1, this was (allegedly) his aim. Who builds stables that look like apartments or office blocks?
His greed is spoiling the area.
Get a grip Silver Surfer… the building are already there and have been for years. Birch Tree Farm is and it’s ancillary buidling are stunning, well kept and are certainly not spoiling the area in the slightest. There are no external alterations proposed in the development so does it matter if horses live in in or a person.
For Appleton Parish Councillors to site an objection as it being against “borough council policy on managing the housing supply” is LAUGHABLE considering all the big new housing developments that have been approved and are indeed ruining the local area. I hope Mr Bryan is successfull and that his application is indeed APPROVED !! I can see no reason at all for it’s refusal ! Last whinge as I’m off now !
Two wrongs don’t make a right. the point is that he has tried to con everyone about his original intentions. Having spoken to the guy a couple of years back, I am on the PC side. A blot on the landscape in a lovely area. I take it the law is unimportant and that anything goes.
Next will be Mr B’s application to convert his two ‘poultry farm’ eyesores by Appleton Reservoir into luxury homes – never have been used for poultry and never will be and should never have been allowed to ruin this piece of countryside – this man is on a par with ‘travellers’ in exploiting planning on green belt land.