COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have objected to plans to create a luxury wedding venue in a remote part of Teesdale.
Blackton Grange Estates has applied for planning permission to transform a barn at Blackton Grange.
If approved, it would go alongside a scheme to turn the old farmhouse into an eight-bedroom luxury holiday home – this project already has planning approval.
The 19th century Blackton Grange farmhouse was turned into hostel in 1978 before becoming a corporate training centre in 2006. It is proposed to have a maximum of 90 total guests per wedding, including 20 guests staying in the holiday home on site.
The application has been submitted by Stella Laird, of Blackton Grange Estates. The revamped barn would become a venue for self-catering weddings. Blackton Grange Estates says the plans will secure the site’s future by protecting the buildings from ruin.
However, CPRE Durham (the Campaign to Protect Rural England), says the scheme will affect the tranquility of the area.
Richard Cowen, from the charity, said in a letter to planners: “Both the former and permitted uses of Blackton Grange are compatible with such a rural location. An outward activities centre encourages people, particularly young people, to enjoy, understand and appreciate the countryside.
“A holiday home venue also brings people to enjoy and appreciate the countryside .The proposed use as a wedding and events venue does not appear, on the face of it, to bring people to enjoy, appreciate and understand the countryside. While there is no full explanation to the ‘events’ part of this application, a wedding venue is clearly to celebrate an important occurrence which has no need to be situated in such a remote location. The nature of this activity plus the traffic it is likely to generate will, we believe, materially affect the tranquillity of this area.
“We also note the proposed design of the addition to the barn. This does not appear to be in keeping with the building profile in the area.”
Cotherstone Parish Council supports the plans, which will be decided by the county council in the coming weeks.
