A couple’s plans to build an eco-home close to the Grade II listed Read Hall have been turned down for a second time.

Ribble Valley Borough Council said the development would be “visually harmful” to the Ribble Valley countryside and would affect the traditional character of the hall.

Mr and Mrs Cross, who live in Read, first applied to the council last year to build the house and re-submitted their plans in February after they were knocked back in August.

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The council raised the same concerns on this occasion as they did previously, saying the proposal would result in a “large, dominant dwellinghouse of modern design and materials” which would be “visually harmful upon the rural character of the area.”

A decision notice from the council said: “It would also have a harmful impact on the simple architecture and traditional character and appearance of the Grade II listed Read Hall and its associated parkland.

“The proposal would lead to the creation of a new residential dwelling outside of the settlement without sufficient justification insofar that it has not been adequately demonstrated that the proposal would meet any of the exception criteria, including meeting a local housing need or providing regeneration benefits.”

Mr and Mrs Read currently live in the village and were looking to remain in the area by repurposing an existing plot at the rear of Read Hall to create a sustainable, modern eco-home.

A personal statement submitted as part of their application said they had lived in the village for 15 years and after a meeting with another resident, were offered a plot of land with the potential for development.

This coincided with their plans to relocate to a property better suited to their needs while remaining in the village community they had become accustomed to.

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The statement continued: “We fully appreciate the area and the particular aspects of the site and want a home that will sit within the contours of the land and remain in-keeping with the surrounding properties with minimum impact, and consideration to the positioning of the property regarding the woodland area and the neighbour’s property has been key to the design.”

The one-storey house would have contained three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an office, and a large open-plan room containing a kitchen and living area.

The applicants have six months to appeal the council’s decision if they wish.