Historic 17th Century barn could be affected by bid to build homes nearby

Developers are hoping to get outline permission to build up the houses on land around Ingfield House on Bocking Hill in Stocksbridge.

There have been 21 objections about traffic, overlooking and the design of the homes and residents are also calling for a heritage impact assessment.

One resident, Dawn Gleadall, said: “The barn and the Cruck are classified as agricultural and were Grade II listed in 1977. The Cruck dates from the 17th century or even earlier.

“In 2004 an 80 per cent grant was awarded to the barns as they were deemed to be of significant historic importance to this area.

“The barn is a valuable asset to the locality. In landscape and historical terms it has been a feature for some 400 years in serving the needs of the community.

“A total of £100,000 of public money was spent on restoring the barns to bring them back to useful historic agricultural buildings for the next 200 years.”

Stocksbridge Town Council says the barn is one of the oldest structures in the area, predating other buildings and settlements by hundreds of years, and is one of only a few listed buildings in the area.

Planning officers are advising councillors to approve the scheme, saying it will bring economic, social and environmental benefits.

They say: “The site can be developed for up to nine dwellings without causing significant harm to the amenities of nearby residents, or causing harm to the character and appearance of the locality.

“Special regard has been given to the desirability of preserving the adjacent listed building and its setting and any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses.

“It is considered that this outline proposal would not cause substantial harm to or loss of a designated heritage asset. The proposal would not significantly harm the setting of the listed building.”

Councillors will make a decision at a meeting on Tuesday, August 25.

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