AN aparthotel could be built at a farm in Cheshire if planning permission is granted.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has received an application seeking prior approval on changing the use of three agricultural buildings on a dairy farm off Croxton Lane, near Middlewich.

The buildings, which are portal frame Dutch barns, would change to a flexible use, specifically as an aparthotel, which is essentially an apartment offering services like a hotel.

According to a planning statement, submitted by Wharfe Rural Planning on behalf of the applicant, farming operations at the site are winding down as the owner is looking to retire.

The statement says: "The farm is winding down its operations and the applicant intends to retire and has no succession to the farming business.

"The applicants are seeking an alternative use for the application buildings and are therefore seeking prior approval from the local planning authority under Class R permitted development for change of use from agriculture to Class C1 aparthotel use."

In the statement says the potential development would retain the existing access on Croxton Lane.

It adds: "The agricultural use of the site has allowed the unrestricted use of this entrance for many years by large agricultural vehicles without any impacts on highway safety.

"The site entrance has good visibility in both directions and is considered adequate to meet the needs of the proposed use.

"The change of use of the buildings is considered to have a negligible effect on the character and number of vehicles accessing the network.

"The occupation of the building as an aparthotel is not considered to present a risk of adverse impacts to the surrounding area from an increase in noise levels.

"There are no existing sources of noise pollution that would present a risk of adverse impacts to the occupants of the proposed building uses. Noise mitigation measures are not considered necessary for the proposed development."

Should prior approval be granted, or deemed unnecessary, a full application with further details on the aparthotel proposal could then be submitted.

To view the plans, search reference 23/03971/PDR on the council's online planning portal.