Plans to convert agricultural barns have been approved despite registered objections.
The barns, on Leyland Green Road, St Helens, lie on green belt land at present. The plans, which outline the creation of a house by converting the barns, were submitted to St Helens Council.
Part of a design and access statement drawn up for applicants Mateo Murphy Group, reads: "Three barn structures are currently located on the site, and the proposals include the conversion of one into a three-bedroom five-person dwelling and associated car parking and alterations to access and landscaping.
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"The proposals are intended to be sensitive to the existing barn structures, maintaining their character and enhancing the setting."
Despite the land being green belt, the plans claim that "re-use of the barns, provided they are of permanent and substantial construction, would not be inappropriate development."
One official objections states: "concern that any development on said site could weaken the safe guarded status as the principle of development on the safe guarded green belt land would be established.
"The site is in the greenbelt and is safeguarded and development would be inappropriate. There are no exceptional circumstances."
However, in a report, case officer Alex Ball recommended plans for approval. It said: "The proposal would involve the conversion of existing barns with a link extension and would have limited impact on openness of the designated site.
"Access to the site would be gained from the existing point along Leyland Green Road, which ensures that there would be no implications to the existing Safeguarded Land. I do not consider that the re-use of the existing agricultural barns for a residential dwelling would prevent or limit development of Safeguarded Land for its potential future use.
"The proposed development will result in the loss of bird breeding habitats. To mitigate for this loss, details of bird nesting boxes (e.g. number, type and location on an appropriately scaled plan) that will be erected on the site should be provided to the Local Planning Authority for agreement".
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