Plans to convert a barn in Ashton, near Wedmore, into a new home have been refused by Sedgemoor District Council.

The planning application to determine if prior approval was required for a proposed change of use of an agricultural building to a single dwelling and associated operational development at Moor View Farm, Ashton, had been made by Ms K Warrender.

The proposal was to convert an agricultural building on the site, which was made of a metal frame and corrugated sheeting.

The applicant said the character of the building would have been retained, with steel cladding to remain on the south-east and north-eastern elevations, but with timber cladding on the north-west and south-western elevations.

The roof would have been replaced with a grey raised seam roof covering to provide a more suitable roof for the domestic use.

However, Chapel Allerton Parish Council objected to the plans, saying they represented more of a demolition and rebuild than a conversion.

The planning officer agreed, and in refusing the application, their report said: "The proposal requires substantial reconstruction of considerable amount of the building's fabric, including addition of new structural elements, to facilitate the future use as a dwelling.

"The works go beyond what could reasonably described as conversion and would be so extensive as to comprise rebuilding.

"Also the proposal would give rise to a material adverse impact on protected species which cannot be mitigated by the proposed development."