Farmhouse demolition plan lodged

Bidtoreplacewithnewfive-bedhouse

Plans have been submitted to demolish a ‘dilapidated’ farmhouse near Thornhill and replace it with a new fivebedroom house.

The Auchensalt Farm site, which lies between Thornhill and Ruskie, currently includes the existing farmhouse and two stone outbuildings.

Applicant Saul Galloway is proposing to demolish the farmhouse along with one of the stone outbuildings, both of which planning consultants have described as ‘dilapidated.’

A document lodged by planning consultants Houghton Planning points out that the proposed replacement two-storey house is of similar scale to the existing threebedroom farmhouse.

The document states: ‘The existing Auchensalt farmhouse dates from the early part of the 20th century. It is of no architectural interest, although currently occupied by the applicant, is not fit for purpose. For it to be anything other than substandard, it would require a complete refurbishment, and substantial rebuild of certain key elements.

‘The applicant, who is a builder himself, considers that to deal with issues of significant damp and rot, the roof will need to be replaced, including all supporting timbers.

It was further stated that all floors and joists needed replacing as well as most of the windows and lintels.

A bat survey dated December 2016 submitted with the application stated that three species of bat were recorded roosting within the site: soprano pipistrelle, common pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat.

It added that a mitigation strategy for the proposed works will ensure that bats are protected during the works and that roosting sites are available at all times.

The survey stated: ‘It is not thought that the buildings hold a maternity roost of any bat species, so the timing of the works in non-critical.

‘However, should breeding be suspected on the site, works that would affect a breeding roost must not take place between May and August.’