A PRIOR approval application for the residential conversion of an agricultural building in Lothersdale has been refused by North Yorkshire Council.

General permitted development rights were sought for the conversion of the building off Sidegate Lane to a single story home with amenity space and parking for two vehicles.

Submissions to the council state: "The applicants are existing residents of Lothersdale and wish to covert the agricultural building to provide residential accommodation to meet their future needs."

But a planning officer report in recommending refusal states that while the proposed three-bedroom building is acceptable in some areas, including impact on highways, because it is partly within the Lothersdale Conservation Area, it can not be classed as permitted development.