Exceptional Turton historic house new door plan approved

Blackburn with Darwen Council has granted David Hughes Listed Building Consent for the work to the Grade-II listed New Hall in Edge Lane, Turton.

A planning officer’s report said: “The application site is a Grade-II listed building which lies within the West Pennine Moors, on an area allocated as Green Belt.

“New Hall is an 18th-century dwelling of exceptional special interest, noted for its symmetrical architectural form, original plan layout, and well-preserved internal detailing.

“Additionally, the proposal site is located within close proximity to the Grade-II listed K6 Telephone Kiosk outside Entwistle Station.

“The proposed development will cause no discernible level of harm or loss of significance to the Grade-II listed building or to the setting of the nearby Grade-II listed K6 Telephone Kiosk.

“This application seeks listed building consent for the removal of a timber door to the rear of the property (wall infill to be stone, to match the existing walls) and installation of a new oak door to the side elevation (in place of an existing window, which is to be removed).

“Pre-application advice was sought for the door to be installed on the front elevation, which was not supported.

“However, this application does not look to locate the door on the front elevation, but put it on the side elevation, which cannot be seen from the road.

“The pre-application also looked to get consent for a new kitchen, which was highlighted not to need consent, and also to remove a redundant and degraded door from the rear elevation, which was supported.

“The proposed works affect a later single-storey kitchen extension, which, while sympathetic in appearance, is of lesser significance than the principal eighteenth-century structure.

“The current submission responds positively to the pre-application advice, relocating the opening to a side elevation of the later extension, where it no longer affects views of the principal elevation.

“The proposal involves the replacement of an existing window within the side elevation of this later extension with a single-glazed oak door of similar width and the blocking up of a redundant rear door in matching sandstone.

“No historic fabric forming part of the 18th-century structure will be altered or removed.

“The removal and reinstatement of stonework to the rear porch will also assist in repairing minor areas of deterioration, enhancing the building’s long-term preservation.”