A PROPOSED forestry and agricultural building can be built in the Wigton area after officers granted planning permission, subject to conditions.

The application, which was submitted to Cumberland Council, is for a site at Easton Bridge Cottage in Easton and permission was granted on Tuesday (September 10).

According to the officer's report the premises is currently being run as a log store business. There is a residential property to the west of the site that is in conjunction with the commercial use.

The proposal site is within an area of outstanding natural beauty and the Hadrian's Wall setting.

In a response from the Environment Agency, a spokesman said: "We are satisfied that the updated document covers the main points in line with the guidance. As a result, we are satisfied that we can remove our objection to the development as proposed."

Environmental Health raised no objections to the development and recommended no conditions while a Natural England spokesman said: "It is considered that the proposed development will not have a significant adverse impact on statutorily protected nature conservation sites."

The report concludes: "The proposed extension represents an extension of appropriate scale and design. The site, although remote, has specific attributes in its commercial context to provide a suitable location for this type of activity, which would otherwise have potential constraints in any alternative urban setting.

"However, the small-scale extension to the building would not have any significant impact on its sensitive open countryside surroundings."

According to a supporting statement the building will be constructed from a steel portal frame with juniper green cladding which is in keeping with other buildings on site.

The report states: "The building is required for additional storage for forestry products (logs, kindling) and agricultural items."

When referring to the Hadrian’s Wall buffer zone it states: "The site is already concreted and therefore the new building will just be bolted to the ground with only limited groundworks required. The building is in keeping with other buildings in the area."

The proposed site is within a medium risk area for flooding and the report adds: "The proposal is to not build the site up and the new building will be bolted to the existing ground with no change in levels. This will therefore not increase the flood risk elsewhere."