Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received an application to convert a traditional stone barn on Drumcroone Road, Killykergan, into two self-catering holiday units.
Proposal and site history
The submission seeks permission to adapt the barn’s first-floor space to create two one-bedroom holiday lets aimed primarily at couples, walkers and visitors to the countryside. The application accompanies a planning statement which sets out the building’s background and condition.
The structure sits within an established farmyard belonging to a working family farm. The statement says the barn occupies a "prominent yet well-contained position" at the entrance to the farm lane and is an "attractive example of traditional rural architecture" with scope for "sympathetic reuse" to bolster visitor accommodation in the area.
"The building remains structurally sound and retains its traditional character, making it highly suitable for conversion and long-term preservation," the planning statement adds.
Previous use and current condition
According to the documentation, the barn has a history of being used for residential purposes from the 1960s, when it provided lodgings for farm workers. More recently, it temporarily housed the applicants while their family home was built. The application states that the residential element has since deteriorated and that the barn is presently used for general storage.
The proposed work would refurbish the former living accommodation into one high-quality holiday unit, while converting the remaining first-floor area to form a second one-bedroom unit.
Local impact and planning considerations
Converting redundant agricultural buildings to holiday accommodation is a common planning route in rural areas, offering a way to secure the fabric of traditional buildings while supporting local tourism economies. If approved, the proposal could:
- increase short-term visitor capacity in the immediate locality;
- provide an adaptive reuse that aims to preserve the barn’s traditional features;
- support the applicants’ working family farm through additional income streams.
However, such proposals are also assessed against a range of planning policies, including impacts on landscape character, access and parking, noise, waste management and the suitability of narrow rural roads for additional traffic. The council will examine the submission alongside representations from neighbours and statutory consultees before reaching a decision.
What happens next
The planning authority will validate the application and then publish details for public inspection. Members of the public and any interested parties will have an opportunity to comment during the consultation period. All responses will be taken into account when the council determines the application.
| Site | Proposed use | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Drumcroone Road, Killykergan | Self-catering holiday accommodation | 2 one-bedroom units |
Anyone seeking further information can view planning documents on the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council website or contact the council’s planning office for advice on the consultation process.
