THE owners of a holiday cottage in Wigglesworth have been given the go-ahead to change its use to a full-time home following a successful appeal.

An application for the change of use of Woodlands, West Thornber, was refused permission in December, 2022, by the former Craven District Council. That decision has now been over-turned by a Government planning inspector.

In their appeal decision notice, the planning inspector said the main issue was whether the proposed development was in a suitable location for housing in regard to the settlement strategy for the district.

The property is one half of a semi-detached barn conversion and originally subject to holiday use only; the other part of the barn conversion is now subject to an agricultural worker's occupancy restriction.

The barn, which dates from 1885, was disused in 1989, before its conversion and is considered in good condition, and still, at the time of the appeal, being advertised as a holiday let.

The inspector, found it was a 'finely balanced judgment' and concluded: "While the proposed development would be in some conflict with the development plan and the Framework taken as a whole, I find the material considerations weigh in its favour to the extent to outweigh this conflict and the harm; I therefore allow this appeal."