AN ORDER to demolish an unauthorised barn at Bank Newton, near Gargrave, has been put on hold after the landowner submitted a new planning application.

Farmer John Howard was given until earlier this month to pull down the barn on his land, close to the Pennine Way, after losing his appeal against enforcement action issued by Craven District Council.

He was given until July 6 to demolish the barn by a Government planning inspector, or face being taken to court, but has now submitted a new application to Craven District Council, which the local authority is currently considering.

It follows the receipt of another application in April submitted by Mr Howard for the retention of the building for agricultural purposes, which the council returned without considering.

A council spokesman said: "This was because the retention of the building had already been considered by the Planning Inspectorate and a decision taken by the inspector that it was not acceptable."

It is now considering a fresh application, which, if validated, will either be determined by officers or by the planning committee.

The spokesman added: "The council has received – at the beginning of July – a further new planning application to carry out physical alterations to the unauthorised building, which in the applicant’s opinion makes it more suitable for agricultural purposes.

"This is a different application to that which the council previously declined to determine, and the submission is presently being checked to see if it is a valid submission. If validated, the application will be publicised and comments invited on the acceptability of the development.”