PROPOSALS to build 13 homes on farmland next to a listed historic building have been blocked by the council.

Developer Westchurch Homes’ application to demolish all but one of the buildings at Lostock House Farm in Hall Lane, Lostock, to make way for a mini housing development was refused by the authority under delegated powers. The company wanted to raze what it described as “a number of vacant and semi derelict buildings” that included a dilapidated and boarded up farmhouse from the mid-1800s. The stone portion of a Victorian barn would have been turned into a new garage.

Eight four-bedroom and five five-bedroom detached properties would have been constructed in their place.

The council’s decision note said: “The proposed development, by virtue of its layout, appearance and landscaping, would harm the setting of the adjacent Grade II* Listed Lostock Hall Gatehouse and the character and appearance of the area, and the public benefits associated with the proposal are not considered to outweigh this harm.

“The proposed development would result in the loss of a non-designated heritage asset — Lostock House Farm Farmhouse — and the public benefits associated with the proposal are not considered to outweigh this harm.”

Planning permission was approved in November, 2015 for the partial demolition of the existing buildings and the building of seven detached homes together with refurbishments and extensions to the existing farmhouse and conversion of the existing barn.

In its application, Westchurch Homes had said: “The modest increase in number to 13 dwellings makes a modest, yet important contribution towards meeting the full, objectively assessed needs for housing in Bolton by means of a more effective and efficient use of this previously developed land and, likewise, a modest decrease in the pressure to build on greenfield land.”

The council report said: “While the applicant has submitted viability information to justify that the approved development is not viable with the retention of the farmhouse (taking into account what the developer has already paid for the site), it is not considered that the submission adequately looks at other options for retaining and converting the farmhouse building given its historic importance.”

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