Council orders demolition of farm cottage

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has ordered the demolition of Lower Farm Cottage in Frodsham.
The property was originally a dilapidated agricultural building that had been substantially re-built and used as a house without any planning permission.
It is on Green Belt land that would require very special circumstances to be presented before permission could be granted. No application was received and the council’s planning team confirmed there were no special circumstances that outweighed the harm to the Green Belt.
Two Enforcement Notices were served in 2015, one for the unauthorised development and one for material change of use. An appeal for material change of use was dismissed and there was no appeal for the unauthorised development.
Lisa Harris, director place strategy, at the council said: “We only consider demolition of a building as a last resort.  This is the first time that the council has taken direct action to demolish a dwelling for a breach of planning control since 2011.
“Our planning team is there to help, provide advice and ensure high quality and sustainable building takes place across the borough.”
The building to be demolished is to the rear of Lower House Farm, Kingsley Road, Frodsham.