CRAVEN Council is considering its next step after a landowner failed to demolish a barn built without planning consent.

The council says farmer John Howard has committed a criminal offence after breaching an enforcement notice requiring him to demolish New Laithe Barn at Bank Newton.

Mr Howard, who farms sheep and has a hospitality and wedding venue business at 'rural retreat' Newton Grange, has meanwhile put up a large sign on the nearby Pennine Way and a hut with a book inviting people to comment and become a 'friend of New Laithe Barn'.

The sign describes how Mr Howard has 'restored and regenerated' the barn to 'share with the Pennine Way'.

But the council, and a government planning inspector, share the view that the building - built on the remains of a 200 year old barn - is mainly new and not designed for agricultural use.

They point out the barn features wooden flooring, damp proofing, 'polished' timber door frames and a date stone 2012 in Roman numerals and including Mr Howard's initials.

A Craven Council spokesman said: “The council has previously served an enforcement notice requiring the complete demolition of an unauthorised new building.

"The owner submitted an appeal against that enforcement notice which was decided by the Planning Inspectorate, who are independent. The Planning Inspectorate agreed with the council that this was a brand new building in the open countryside that was clearly not designed for agricultural use. The inspector indicated that the building was designed for either a residential use or to be used as a venue in association with the applicant's wedding and tourism business."

The council first became aware of the barn, which is accessed via a hard-surfaced road from Newton Grange, when Mr Howard submitted a notification of his intention to use if for leisure use.

"Subject to certain limitations existing agricultural buildings can be changed to other uses without planning permission. However, the council refused to accept the notification as this was not an existing traditional field barn, but a brand new building built without planning permission to resemble one," said the spokesman.

"A number of applications to retain the building have been refused including an application refused by the council at its meeting on 26 September. At that meeting the planning committee were advised by officers that the applicant would be allowed one further month to demolish the building and comply with the requirements of the enforcement notice. Officers very recently inspected the site and the building has not been removed.

"The legal requirements of the enforcement have been breached and failure to comply with an enforcement notice is a criminal offence. Consideration is now being given to the Council’s next action."

Mr Howard did not wish to comment.