DESPITE a warning by a parish council that the conversion of a barn at Starbotton would lead to further inappropriate development in a conservation area created to protect a medieval 'toft' system, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee has approved a planning application by artist Victoria Russell.

Kettlewell with Starbotton parish councillor Ian Macefield told the committee on April 9 that Tom Lear Barn was an integral part of Starbotton’s medieval toft (croft) system.

“The toft system is the key charm, character and essence of the village,” he said.

The planning officer agreed that the barn had a very high heritage significance as there was evidence of it originally being of cruck construction and so likely to date from the late 16th century.

She said there had been extensive negotiations over the design to produce a sensitive scheme which would also enable the owner to use it as an artist studio as well as a two-bedroom local occupancy dwelling.

The parish council had objected to the original plans because they included a glazed gable which, it said, was out of character with the barn and other buildings in the conservation area.

This was not included in amended plans. Instead there will be patent glazing providing light to the first floor. The planning officer stated: “Although patent glazing can be a significant feature on a roof, on this building it will appear as a single strip of glazing running the length of the rear roof and will avoid the requirement for several roof-lights or new windows which would alter the simple character of the barn and impact on historic fabric.”

The parish council had also objected to the proposed access which will be a track across the toft, stopping a short distance from Tom Lear Barn. The medieval wall line is to be reintroduced in order to separate the majority of the field from the proposed parking and garden, the planning officer said.

“It is considered that the important landscape setting of the barn and the Conservation Area will therefore be retained, with some enhancement in the form of the reinstated medieval wall line compensating for the introduction of the track within the field,” she added.

The parish council, however, had stated: “The proposed track will have a serious visual impact, being visible from the footpaths above the village. In addition, the track and the soakaway on a medieval toft will require earthworks on a potentially important archaeological site.”

It was also concerned about the installation of a cattle grid as this, it maintained, would be an alien feature in a medieval village setting. It added that a cattle grid was not especially good at controlling stock and would present a danger to children and small animals.