An appeal has been launched by the owner of a farmhouse against the council’s refusal of a plan to demolish buildings and build two new houses.

Last year members of Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee narrowly voted to refuse permission to Mrs A Kennedy to knock down a number of disused farm buildings and build two ‘Grand Designs’-style houses in the yard of Lushill Farm between Highworth and Castle Eaton.

Mrs Kennedy’s plan was to demolish some farm buildings but keep the old stone-built barn and extend it for one two-storey, four-bed house, and build an entirely new, single-storey three-bed house as well.

Both homes would have large garage and store buildings provided.

The issue for the planners was twofold - first, that there was little or no public transport or local amenities in the village, so new residents would have to use their cars, and second, they said the new buildings would impact a significant landscape.

Mrs Kennedy took issue with the reasons for recommending re4fusal to the committee: “The application is recommended for refusal because the location is considered too remote for houses and landscape details. As the site already has consent for houses the site therefore cannot be too remote.”

She added that her scheme: “Provides better quality housing than the conversions that are already consented.

“The converted barn and new house would be super energy efficient with solar panels, air source heating, high insulation values, and triple glazing so that they are 90 per cent more efficient than a typical building of this type and would exceed the current standards of the Building Regulations  

“The historic stone barn would be brought back into long-term us and the removal of the five large derelict farm buildings would improve the area and surrounding landscape and the historic farmyard enclosure would be reinstated.

“The houses will contribute to the long-term economic sustainability of Lushill Farm. “

Now, since the refusal decision, Mrs Kennedy has launched an appeal to the government-appointed planning inspector to have the decision overturned.

She already has permission to convert buildings on the farmyard into houses.

No date has yet been set for a decision.

The decision after a planning appeal is normally the end of the matter although either party can then appeal to the High Court if unhappy with the inspector’s decision.