Decision over crumbling building on greenbelt ends planning saga
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In recent years Shibden Estate Company has seen two planning applications for the gatehouse building at Upper Shibden Hall, just outside of Queensbury, refused.
The plans would have seen the building restored, as well as a large extension added to it.
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Hide AdHowever, Bradford Council has twice refused the plan for being inappropriate for Greenbelt due to the size of the extension.
An appeal against this decision saw a planning inspector side with the Council.
But earlier this year the company submitted a new plan for the building – this time without any extension.
Bradford Council has now approved this application – to turn the building into a house with two bedrooms, a lounge, bathroom, kitchen and dining area and two parking spaces.
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Hide AdPlanning officers said: “Permission is sought to bring the property back into an active use, unlike previous applications that have been resisted it is no longer proposed to extend the building.
“The merit of restoring the building has never been disputed.
“However as the property falls within the allocated green belt a measured approach is required to respect the setting. It has been harm to the green belt due to the restoration being linked to disproportionate extension of the property that resulted in the previous refusals.
“The proposal now excludes any extension and merely proposes to restore the building based on its existing footprint and the structural remains of the building. This approach is welcomed and will ensure the building has no greater impact on the openness of the green belt.
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Hide Ad“The plans also indicate a sympathetic restoration that will ensure the original character and appearance of the gatehouse is respected. This being the case the proposal can only be seen to have positive implications for the local environment given the buildings current condition which is only likely to deteriorate further without intervention.”