A former agricultural building could be converted into a single-bedroom home near a Grade I listed property.

The planning application was submitted to Northumberland County Council by the agent Miss Campbell of the company Galbraith, located in Hexham.

It proposes to convert a single-storey storage outbuilding in Town Foot, Belsay to a residential dwelling and associated access and gardens.

The heritage statement submitted with the application stated: "Town Foot – also known as Belsay Buildings – is a small farm group lying south of the current main access drive from Belsay Hall, a property managed by English Heritage."

Town Foot is described in the statement as a late 18th-century farm building complex with a cottage, hemmel and granary, and barn, built as supporting infrastructure for the nearby Belsay Hall.

The Grade I listed Hall, a Regency-style country house, is thought to be the first British country house to be built entirely in the new Greek revival style.

Belsay Hall and Castle are managed under a Guardianship Agreement by English Heritage, however, the parkland and Town Foot near Belsay Hall are managed by the Belsay Charitable Trust.

The Trust is the applicant for this proposal and owns and manages all buildings at Town Foot.

The design and access statement said: "The dwelling provides a single bedroom unit and bathroom with an open plan kitchen/dining area to maximise the views to the south."

The statement added 'it is considered that the proposed development sits comfortably with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Northumberland Local Plan Policies to allow for the change of use and conversion of existing buildings', based on three individual reasons.

This includes retaining and reusing an existing building, enhancing architectural merit and using existing access to the public highway.

Two parking spaces were proposed for the site, which will be laid with gravel.

For more information, go to the council's planning portal and search reference number 23/04744/LBC.