PROPOSALS to demolish locally Listed Callands Farmhouse and replace it with six new dwellings have been thrown out by Warrington Borough Council planners.
Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council had objected to the scheme stating the farmhouse was one of the remaining links to the areas former agricultural heritage and as such should be protected. They said the propertyis of some age, character and historical importance and should be preserved and possibly protected further.
Applicants Flinton Blythe said the proposal was to form a new 6-unit residential scheme within the existing curtilage of Callands Farmhouse. It involved a new access off an existing private driveway adjoining Willougby Close for which access would be shared. A new driveway ould be created within each of the new plots which would be for the sole use of the proposed dwellings.
The intention was to provide a new residential scheme of a comparable sized dwellings to the similar properties in the immediate vicinity of the existing site area. The intention was to site the proposed new dwellings at a distance from each other which would be in keeping with the surrounding area. This would minimise the disturbance to the visual residential landscape of the existing estate.
But Warrington Borough Council planners rejected the application on a wide variety of grounds, stating the layout of the proposed development, particularly due to positioning of dwellings failed to respond to the prevailing character of the local area and would result in an over development of the application site.
They also said it had not been demonstrated that suitable parking spaces or safe and suitable access for all users could be achieved onto Willoughby Close.
The proposed development would also result in the total loss of an important locally listed building which makes a significant contribution to the character and distinctiveness of the local area, the loss of historic fabric associated with the farmhouse and its garden and boundary walls, which together contribute to the significance of the non designated heritage asset.
The scale of the harm which would result is considered to be substantial and the public benefits are not considered to out weigh that harm.
Due to the proposal involving the demolition of a building and associated outbuildings, a Preliminary Bat Survey is also required to establish if bats are present. In regard to other wildlife, no Ecological Appraisal has been submitted.
