Farm buildings set to be replaced by mini-hotel in Tockholes

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved Kenneth Marsden’s plan for the site.

The two agricultural buildings to be demolished and replaced are next to Silk Hall Cottage on Tockholes Road.

Mr Marsden has been granted approval for a change of use from agricultural to flexible commercial C1 use (hotel).

Owing to the size of the site — less than 150 square metres — the development is likely to be a one- or two-bedroom guest house connected to and serviced from the farm building.

Such short-term accommodation falls under the C1 planning use class for hotels.

Any external alterations or extensions to the building will require planning permission, but the principle of the conversion does not.

A supporting statement says: “The applicant seeks to change the use of two existing agricultural buildings to C1.

“The application site, together with a further parcel of land in close proximity, forms the applicant’s agricultural unit.

“Currently, the agricultural buildings are used for storing machinery and the wider area is used for sheep grazing. Historically, livestock has been kept in the buildings.

“The site is accessed via an existing access point on Silk Hall Road.

“The site adjoins Tockholes Village Hall and is bounded by residential dwellings to the south and an engineering business to the north.

“The wider area consists of verdant countryside.

“The building has been used solely for agricultural purposes since July 3, 2012.

“The cumulative floor space of buildings which have changed use within the agricultural unit will not exceed 1,000 square metres.

“The site subject to this application consists of two buildings — one approximately 10m x 10m and the other 10m x 5m.

“The building closest to Silk Hall benefits from a partially brick-built frontage. Both buildings are partially timber-clad and include a steel frame.

“The buildings have been in situ on the site for more than 26 years.

“Taken as a whole, the site can be considered to constitute buildings for which permitted development rights apply.”