THE owner of a 200 year old cottage in Thornton-in-Craven knocked down without planning permission has applied to re-build it.

David Eckersall has submitted plans to replace Grade II listed Nutter Cote Farm - part of the three property Nutter Cote - in Church Road, which was demolished without planning permission in May.

He has further applied to Craven District Council for retrospective consent for garden walls and a garage and log store, and for the temporary siting of a caravan for 18 months while building work is taking place.

His neighbours at the attached Nutter Cote Cottage, Joan and Geoff Peel, returned from holiday in May to find their own property, where they had lived for 40 years, exposed to the elements and unsafe.

Mr and Mrs Peel have since made their own application to the council to carry out temporary works to weather proof the exposed gable of the building, and the dining room.

In a design and access statement outlining plans for the site, Mr Eckersall's agents, Rollinson Planning Consultancy, say the plan it to re-instate 'previous residential use to the site'.

Proposed is a three bedroom, two storey home of the same size, also taking into account an approved side extension, which was to replace earlier extensions to the cottage.

"The proposed replacement dwelling will have the same appearance and character as was previously considered by the planning authority. It will re-instate the street scene as was and has already been approved."

Nutter Cote - comprising Nutter Cote Farm, Nutter Cote Cottage, and Nutter Cote Barn - is described as Laithe House in the National Heritage List for England.

It is believed to date from around the late 18th century and enlarged in the 19th century.

Rollinson continues: "As a new dwelling, the proposed building can no longer logically form part of Nutter Cote, as described in the National Heritage List. It will, however, be an attached building, and the authority will, therefore, retain control over any future alterations to it."