Approval has been granted for four local occupancy houses at Melmerby after the plan was backed by the parish council.
Messrs Awde had again applied for planning permission from Eden Council for the four-house scheme following a refusal in May, last year.
However, despite the view of officers having not changed, the district authority’s planning committee voted in favour of approving the plan, which had been supported by the parish council.
A statement from Holt Planning Consultancy Ltd, accompanying the application, said the proposal related to “already developed land” at the former Churnside Farm, Melmerby.
Permission was being sought for the demolition of three agricultural buildings to make way for four houses, all two storeys.
Councillors were told the homes could house staff connected with the applicant’s farming business which is now centred at Broadmeadows, located in the countryside on the other side Melmerby.
“The intention is to provide these four new-build dwellings on a rental basis with priority given to accommodating staff – who, by definition, would satisfy the local connections criteria,” said the planning statement.
“These dwellings would combine providing a diversification of the farm business income with investment in its workforce, by providing local needs housing.”
Councillors were told in an officer’s report that the existing site comprised three moderate scale agricultural buildings around a terraced and hardsurfaced concrete hardstanding area.
In addition, two traditional barns at Churnside Farm, within the applicant’s ownership, were currently undergoing conversion into two houses following the granting of planning permission.
Fergus McMorrow, assistant director development for Eden Council, said: “Whilst it is appreciated that Melmerby Parish Council supports the proposal for new housing within the parish, such development should be directed to infill and rounding off sites within the villages/hamlets, or alternatively the parish may wish to progress a neighbourhood plan identifying sites suitable for local connection occupancy housing in Melmerby.”
Despite this direction, councillors voted in favour of approving the plan.
