Heald Town Farm Heald Lane Weir Bacup Lancashire OL13 8QZ

1. 1.The barn conversion as carried out would result in undue harm to the living conditions of occupants living at The Barn and Heald Farm by failing to ensure that the occupants will continue to enjoy the levels of privacy that could reasonably be expected. As such, the development fails to comply with Policy ENV1 of the Local Plan and Section 12 of the NPPF.
2. 2.The barn conversion as carried out would result in substandard living conditions for future occupants of the development by failing to provide them with reasonable levels of privacy as a result of the inadequate separation distance to The Barn and Heald Farm. As such, the development fails to comply with Policy ENV1 of the Local Plan and Section 12 of the NPPF.
3. 3.The design of the family annexe is modern and urban in character and form, and is considered to detract from the intrinsic character of the hamlet of Heald Town. The materials used, its incongruous urban design and its prominence are inappropriate to its use as an annexe and the context of the overall site. Accordingly, the proposed annexe building is contrary to the principles of 'good design' in Section 12 of the NPPF, Policy ENV1 of the Rossendale Local Plan and to the requirements for annexes in the Alterations and Extensions to Residential Properties SPD.
4. 4.The siting of the family annexe results in encroachment of domesticating built development into open countryside, and has a detrimental impact on the essentially open and rural character of the countryside. This is contrary to Policy ENV1, and ENV3 of the Local Plan and Sections 12 and 15 of the NPPF.
5. 5.The extent of encroachment into the countryside, created by the new access road to the farm and annexe, and the parking areas and bin store, would have a domesticating and harmful impact on the essentially open and rural character of the countryside. This would be contrary to Policy ENV1, ENV3 of the Rossendale Local Plan and Sections 12 and 15 of the NPPF.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

OL13 8QZ

Date validated

23 October 2025