Plans have been lodged to demolish a farmhouse and build a new house in its place.

The application has been submitted by Darren Mills, the owner and occupier of Umberton Farm off Salford Road in Over Hulton and the surrounding agricultural land, to build a new dwelling.

The new proposal is larger in size and scale compared to te current farmhouse but would be built on the ‘footprint’ of the farmhouse.

The developer says the proposal will not harm the greenbelt and is a significant distance away from any neighbouring property to cause much disruption.

A planning statement with the application said: “The fundamental aim of this proposal is to create a house of distinct architectural quality, delivering a sustainable and traditional dwelling with contemporary notes and and most importantly respects the existing agricultural character within the immediacy of the existing buildings on site.

“The existing farmhouse has been uninhabited in for several years and currently lies vacant. It is not suitable for family living and will remain vacant in its present condition and form. Not only does it provide unsustainable and impractical living conditions but the existing design and layout is dysfunctional and not fit for modern day living.

“It has been stressed by the architect, and concurred by the applicant, that the character of the site is not diminished or harmed in any way through the proposals put forward in this application.

!In fact, the opposite has been stressed in that in order to enhance the site’s character and charm, a replacement dwelling is required which will embrace and consolidate the farmstead presence on site.

“It is therefore considered that the existing characteristics of the site married with the strategic appearance and layout of the replacement dwelling and retention and protection of the site’s development curtilage merit significant weight in enabling a larger replacement dwelling to be constructed and should be appraised, in addition to the points listed above, as the special circumstances necessary to justify this proposal.”

A decision on the application is expected to be made by the end of September.