HOLIDAY accommodation in Burton-in-Lonsdale can be converted to residential use following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate and with support from people in the area.

In May last year, North Yorkshire Council refused an application by Anita Coates to change the use of Sycamores Cottage in Barnoldswick Lane from holiday accommodation to residential use because of its location in the open countryside, but that decision has now been overturned by a Government planning inspector, and permission allowed for its conversion.

The site has been subject to several previous applications for residential use since 2007, including three failed appeals.

In her decision notice, planning inspector Alison Partington, said although the cottage is located in a small cluster of properties on Barnoldswick Lane, it was not disputed it was in open countryside, some 1.5km from Burton.

Appellant, Ms Coates said the two cottages had been marketed for holiday use since 2007, but had not been used as such since 2013 as they were no longer profitable. Marketing by professional agents had included the use of a board on the site, advertising in 'various local publications' and on property websites.

While there had been interest, much was from people wanting to live permanently in the accommodation, rather than as a holiday cottage business.

In 2021,the last year before an application for change of use was submitted, just four requests for details had been received. The properties, created more than 20 years ago, would also need investment so they met current market standards and expectations.

Ms Partington said she was satisfied holiday use of the cottages was not viable. "Whilst there may be a considerable amount of other holiday accommodation in the area, this does not indicate that utilising these cottages in this way would be viable.

"The absence of any offers for the properties as holiday cottages over the extensive period they have been marketed, supports the conclusion that this use is not viable, despite the fact that this is a popular area for tourism," she said.

Proposed change of use would not involve any external changes, and as such would preserve, but not enhance, the area. However, seeing as there was no other viable use of the building, there was a 'high probability' that the condition of the property would decline, and so 'resulting in significant harm to the character and appearance of the area."

Ms Partington added while she had not been provided with any specific local housing need, 'the potential for these two-bedroomed dwellings to provide much needed accommodation for local people was raised in many of the letters of support for the proposal from local people'.