COUNCILLORS at Warrington are to visit a site described as a “gateway” to a village to decide if an old barn can be demolished and replaced with a two storey detached garage and car port.
Pinfold Barn, in Lymm Road, Thelwall, is a former brick farm building in the Green Belt and within a conservation area. It was recently converted into a two-storey dwelling, in line with planning consent given in 2003.
But although planning consent was originally given for an adjoining Dutch barn to be renovated, the applicant now wishes to completely demolish the building and replace it with the garage and car port.
Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council lodged objections on the grounds the site was a gateway to the village and the agricultural appearance of the barn should be preserved.
They claimed the garage and car port would not be sympathetic to the surroundings nor to the Green Belt and conservation area.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved. They say the proposed buildings would be smaller than the barn which, if restored under the existing planning consent, would conceal more of the sensitively converted former brick barn.
Members of the borough’s development control committee will visit the site before reaching a decision.
