A DECISION on plans to build an orangery at a remote propety in Bracewell, near Barnoldswick, has been put on hold for talks between planning officers and the applicants.

West Craven councillors, who had been recommended to refuse the scheme, heard that the owner of Croft Gate Farm in Bracewell Lane wanted to be able to enjoy the location even in bad weather.

Committee chair, Councillor David Whipp told the monthly meeting of Pendle Council's West Craven Committee on Tuesday he had visited the property and spoken to the applicant who had described the location as "blissful on a good day and diabolical on a bad day'.

"They are trying to create an area that is not subject to the elements," he told last week's meeting in Salterforth Village Hall, adding that it was very isolated and not visible to the general public.

Cllr Whipp said he was not suggesting that councillors over-ruled the officer's recommendation to reject it, but to defer it to see if the applicant could amend the plan enough to satisfy the planning department.

Neil Watson, Pendle's assistant director of planning and building control, said in its current form it was a bad design, but agreed it could be improved.

Proposed by the applicant is the extension to an existing agricultural building with an orangery, which has been partly converted to residential use, and the erection of a walled garden around agricultural land, set in the farmyard of Croft Gate Farm.

In his report to committee, Mr Watson said in a design and access statement submitted with the application, it is stated that the proposed horticultural area would provide produce for local businesses and also create employment opportunities, 'both of which would lead to an intensification in use of the existing access', a single track off the A59.

In terms of design, it was important that farm buildings are preserved on the outside in their original form on the outside 'without unsympathetic additions or alterations'.

He said: "In this case the proposed development is to add an extension which is similar in appearance to a conservatory. It would add an unsympathetic addition to a prominent elevation of the existing barn. The orangery would be surrounded by a high stone wall measuring 2.4m in height. This would completely mask the most prominent elevation of the building, making it difficult to read as a traditional agricultural structure. It would be an unsympathetic addition to the building which would not be in keeping with the surrounding character of the wider visual amenity."

Mr Watson told the meeting that it was a lovely, traditional building, and that the proposed orangery 'did not fit' and would 'destroy the character of that side of the building'.

He added: "It does not make it a good design just because you cannot see it."

Cllr Whipp said: "I am not tempted to override what the planning section is saying, my suggestion is to see if there is any wriggle room to allow permission of the plans."

The application is due to come back to the March meeting of the committee following discussions with the applicant.