COUPLE have lost a battle to convert their garage into a living area after a council issued a long list of refusal reasons.

Mr and Mrs A Grant, of Top Farm Court Yard, The Paddock, Ashby Road, Ticknall, had also applied to South Derbyshire District Council for permission to build a detached garage, as well as other alterations which included additional roof lights.

The early 19th century farmhouse is Grade II listed, while the outbuildings, including the garage were originally listed in their own right, subsequently de-listed, but still have listed status as curtilage buildings.

The couple hoped the roof lights would provide ‘much needed light and ventilation to rooms that at present are dark due to the size and location of existing openings’.

However the district council has said the 11 roof lights would ‘be damaging to the simple character of the farm buildings’.

The extension would have been for a kitchen with cloaks and utility rooms, but the council said it would ‘damage the low-key domestic character’ of the building.

The existing double garage would have been converted to a bedroom with an en suite facility.

The council report said: “The proposed changes would damage the intrinsic character of the existing build- ings and spoil their complementary, contrasting nature in relation to the farmhouse by removing some of their understated simplicity.

“By virtue of their location and number, the proposed extension and roof lights would detract from the simple agricultural style of this former farm building and result in a loss of historic fabric thereby affecting its character and that of the setting of the principle Grade II listed farmhouse (Top Farmhouse) and the farm grouping as a whole.

“The erection of a building outside the compact, distinct and traditional grouping would again adversely affect the group’s setting and that of the character and appearance of this part of the Ticknall Conservation Area.”