Plans to convert barns into holiday cottages in Northumberland village

Plans have been submitted for the creation of new holiday lets as well as a barn in a north Northumberland village.
A picture of the two barns to be converted and the other to be demolished, which was submitted with the application.A picture of the two barns to be converted and the other to be demolished, which was submitted with the application.
A picture of the two barns to be converted and the other to be demolished, which was submitted with the application.

The application seeks permission for the conversion of redundant farm buildings into five holiday lets, as well as the demolition of a dilapidated steel-framed barn and the erection of a new barn, on land west of Swarland East House, off Park Road in Swarland.

Five of the existing buildings on the site are barns, with the first two being older sandstone buildings and redundant to agricultural use.

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The third, which sits in between these two, is the one proposed for demolition, while the other pair, to the north-west, will remain in use for agricultural storage.

The proposals are to convert the two sandstone barns into five holiday dwellings, with the elevations being altered by the introduction of necessary new window and door openings.

A new barn is proposed to the north of the site. Sitting perpendicular to the sandstone barns, this new building will offer agricultural uses for the site.

The space between the stone barns, where the steel-framed barn to be demolished currently sits, will be landscaped for the occupiers of the holiday lets, with green spaces, dwarf walls, a communal area and pathways.

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One of the barns will be converted into three two-storey holiday cottages – one four-bedroom and the others three-bed, while the other block will become two one-and-a-half-storey, three-bedroom holiday lets.

There would be 15 parking spaces provided on site, three per unit, as well as a drop-off area and turning space, plus storage areas for bins and bikes.

A design and access statement concludes: ‘Several key existing buildings are significantly under-used due to changing farming practices. The proposal of a new barn will aid the re-imagining of these existing buildings.

‘The overall footprint, with the demolition of barn three, will see a significant drop that will reduce the site’s visual impact.

‘Overall, we feel that this is a scheme that will produce a sympathetic, and worthwhile outcome.’

Ben O'Connell, Local Democracy Reporting Service