PLANS for an agricultural building near Tarbert to become a four-bedroom house have been lodged with council officials.
Management of the Berach Estate have requested planning permission from Argyll and Bute Council for the change of use at Home Farm, in Kilberry.
The council is expected to rule on the plans by late December, with the public now able to view plans and submit feedback.
A design statement submitted with the application said: “The application buildings are currently unused and have been in a state of disrepair for many years. Some parts of Kilberry Home Farm are already in residential use, with the disused former farm buildings sitting between and alongside these existing residential elements.
“The proposal seeks to incorporate these redundant buildings into the wider residential use of the Home Farm, while repairing their fabric and improving the overall appearance and coherence of the site
“The application does not involve the introduction of a new isolated building into open countryside. It concerns the repair and re-use of existing buildings within an established estate setting.
“The proposal forms part of the wider long-term repair and management of the Kilberry Estate, where underused buildings are being brought back into viable use rather than being allowed to deteriorate further.”
The statement added: “The proposal does not represent the loss of agricultural activity from the Kilberry Estate. The estate’s agricultural base has moved to a more suitable location elsewhere on the estate, where investment in new buildings and infrastructure is supporting the continued development of farming operations.
“Residential re-use would secure the repair of the Home Farm buildings, bring them back into occupation and provide for their long-term maintenance. The design approach is restrained, repair-led and appropriate to the rural estate setting.
“The proposal would improve the appearance of Kilberry Home Farm, make productive use of existing buildings and support the wider long-term repair and management of the Kilberry Estate.”
