A CONSULTATION is underway into alternations to a Grade II listed building in Wigton.

An application for Listed Building Consent has been made to Allerdale Borough Council for a rear single storey extension as well as internal/external alterations to a farmhouse in Overgate, Wigton.

The application is being handled by Day Cummins Limited on behalf of Mr C Hill who owns the property.

Mr Hill is applying for consent to demolish a single storey shed adjacent to the farmhouse and a single garage.

The reason for doing so is that the shed and garage are now redundant and demolition would provide more natural surveillance and security as well as natural light to the farmhouse and garden.

Overgate is Grade II listed farmhouse and small holding off the A595 and the current house is believed to date back to the late 18th century.

A Heritage and Access Report from Day Cummins Limited said: “The farm includes a mixture of traditional sandstone buildings some of which are in a poor state of repair and modern steel frame and clad buildings.

“The farmhouse is in need of full modernisation and refurbishment.”

Proposed changes to the site include levelling and landscaping the yard area to the east with a line of trees planted on the east separating and screening the fields from the yard/storage areas.

The main changes will be to the rear of the property with a single storey pitched slate roof extension providing extra living accommodation.”

As part of the application process a survey was held into the potential impact on bats, barn owls and breeding birds.

In his findings, Steve Wake of the Cumberland Bat Group said: “The building had no field signs of barn owls, signs of nesting jackdaws and swallows were seen, small numbers of Pipistrelle and Myotis bats were seen with no interest in the house garage or former byre.

“There is potential for bats to be present in the areas that were inaccessible to the survey.

“These were, under gaps ridge and roof junctions and under slates, behind roof timbers and panelling, in wall voids and in house attic.

“Extreme care must be taken when working on these areas and on the roof.”