Plans to build house on farm site knocked back

Controversial plans to knock down a farm barn and build a new house in the North Ayrshire countryside have been rejected for being out of keeping with the area.

The North Ayrshire Council local review body on Wednesday considered a notice of review following a decision to refuse the project which involved building a single storey house on the site of Mid Lambroughton Farm, by Cunninghamehead.

A notice of review was submitted in respect of a planning application to take down an agricultural building and develop a single house.

Planning officer Ian Davies said: “In the absence of detailed design, no cognizance of the council’s housing in the countryside guidance nor outstanding quality of design has been demonstrated.

“Insufficient information has been provided that the proposal would be suitably scaled sited and designed or that it would be in keeping with the character of the area.

“The appellant does not want to develop the site but they want to sell it to someone else who can build something there.

“The site is part of a former farmsteading with the original farmhouse to the east. To the south-east is a barn conversion permitted in October 2019, to the north east, a barn conversion permitted in 2018 and beyond is another conversion permitted in 2006.

“All those were conversions granted full planning permission.”

He said the proposal was contrary to the countryside objective of the local plan.

Councillor Timothy Billings proposed a motion to stick by the original officers’ decision. This was seconded by Councillor Amanda Kerr and agreed by the committee.