National Trust plans to demolish castle farm buildings

The National Trust has put forward plans to demolish four farm buildings on a castle estate in Herefordshire.

All the structures are said to be "redundant" at Croft Castle and apparently built since 1948.

The charity said the plan was prompted by damage to a neighbouring threshing barn, which holds "significant heritage value for the Croft estate", from a fallen tree last year.

The plans stated: "The planned removal of the four modern agricultural buildings surrounding the threshing barn will enable its careful restoration and help preserve its historical integrity."

The buildings are listed as cattle sheds; a Dutch barn (a timber structure used to store hay); an implement shed (a building used to store equipment); and a silage clamp, which is a structure used to store crops and make silage.

They are all part of the Home Farm near Leominster, which is north of the Grade I-listed castle and neighbouring church, and they are not normally accessible to visitors, the application said.

The charity said they should not be seen as part of the "curtilage", or the area around the neighbouring heritage-listed buildings, and it said listed building consent would not be required for demolition.

It added removing the structures "will better reveal the traditional buildings in the vicinity" and enhance the site.

Buildings would be checked for the presence of protected bats and birds prior to demolition, documents confirmed.

Herefordshire Council is expected to decide on the application by 8 June.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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