Residents in Cross Hills are up in arms about a proposed extension of an agricultural building at New Laithe Farm, off Station Road.

Farmer Robert Wade has submitted plans to build a 30-metre long livestock building that would accommodate calving pens, isolation pens, handling facilities, a cattle chute, holding pens and loading facilities.

The livestock building would be erected alongside a 48-metre long agricultural building of the same design.

The application has been criticised by residents, about 30 of whom have lodged objections with Craven District Council.

Simon Birchall, a chartered surveyor who lives on Park Road, said: “We believe this is totally contrary to planning policies. Buildings like this should meet specific criteria such as careful and considerate design and have no impact on local amenity.

“But this is going to be a huge monolithic shed in what is supposed to be open space. The whole proposal is out of context where it sits.”

Mr Birchall and his wife, Jane, are also annoyed that the public consultation on the building came when many people were on holiday.

Other residents also voiced their concerns.

Station Road resident Peter Foster said eyebrows were raised when the current farmhouse and 48-metre agricultural building were built a few years ago.

“When we had the floods, the water came up this way and nobody could understand why the farm was built here,” he said.

“The water was right up to the side of the building. I thought it was a peculiar place to build a house of that size.

“If this livestock building is granted planning permission, where is the next one going to come?

And Philip Tedder, of Aireview Terrace, said “There’s a right place and wrong place to put such a building.”

Baxter Wood resident Arthur Dixon, a former district councillor for Glusburn, said several years ago when the Midland Mills industrial estate was built off Station Road, Farnhill and Kildwick residents objected that it was an eyesore.

But when the roofs of the estate buildings were painted green, this allowed it to blend in with the surroundings. He said the same should be done for Mr Wade’s agricultural buildings.

A spokesman for Craven District Council said: “We have received quite a number of objections and comments about the application for the barn.

“This means that the application will be given seven days’ notice and this is when the local ward member has the option to ask for it to be considered at planning committee.”

Mr Wade’s agent, Sutton-based Kaminiski Developments, said they were aware of the objection, but had no response to make at this time.