A SENIOR councillor in Northumberland is considering a new application to development on his Northumberland farm after losing the latest round of a planning battle with his own local authority.
Conservative John Riddle, who represents Bellingham on Northumberland County Council, this week lost an appeal against the authority’s decision to stop him converting outbuildings on 1,100-acre Blakelaw Farm into four two-bedroom homes.
But now Coun Riddle, the Northumberland National Park Authority chairman, who has sat on the county council for 23 years, says he may come back with a new application. Coun Riddle, who also chairs the National Association of National Parks, told The Journal yesterday: “I have to consider all my options, and I am not going to rush into it.
“But I am thinking of a re-submission, possibly demolishing one of the four buildings which has been at issue.
“One of the units they didn’t seem to like at planning, so I would probably delete that unit.
“We may have to talk to the planners and see what their ideas are, but if at the end of the day we cannot build something that is fit for purpose, then it’s the end of the road for it.”
Coun Riddle – who is the fourth generation of his family to run Blakelaw Farm – and his wife Zaina want the extra dwelling space near the boundary of Northumberland National Park for their growing family.
But the planning authority ruled the outbuildings on the 150-year-old farm were heritage assets and could not be altered.
This month appeals inspector Malcolm Rivett threw out Coun Riddle’s case – as well as his application for costs against the county council. In his judgment, Mr Rivett ruled: “The benefits of the four dwellings would not outweigh the harm caused to the character, appearance and heritage value of the buildings.”
“I’m somewhat aggrieved, but philosophical,” Coun Riddle said. “There are similar applications to mine in the area but I think they have dealt with me in a different manner because of who and what I am.
“There are a lot of local examples where there is the same style of hay shed being developed into a house, including one in Bellingham recently.
“I’m not going to take it any further in terms of this appeal but it’s very bizarre in that there weren’t any local objections.
“And although I didn’t put letters of support in with the planning application, I’ve had a number of messages of support since.”
Earlier this week, Coun Ian Hutchinson, chairman of the planning committee that made the decision, said: “The inspector, having looked at it independently, has come to the same decision that we had.”
