A MOBBERLEY dairy farmer whose business is at risk due to falling milk prices is looking to convert a disused agricultural building into three homes.

David Simcock, of Grimsditch Farm on Damson Lane, has submitted a full planning application to Cheshire East Council to convert a two-storey building into two three-bedroom dwellings and one two-bedroom property.

The site on which the homes would be built is a traditional working dairy farm, with a farmhouse and disused barn.

The application, put together by James Bell Architecture, said: “The proposals will aim to preserve as much of the original fabric as possible to reverse any of the changes in the future.

“One of the proposed properties has two bedrooms at ground floor level and is designed to cater for a disabled or aged user.

“This is aimed to ensure that there are properties to offer users of all physical abilities.”

There will be parking for the residents inside the existing shed on the site, which will ensure that the ‘character of the countryside is retained.’

The site has been owned by the Simcock family for three generations and is currently farmed by David Simcock and his wife Paulin.

The application added: “Over the last two years the milk price has dropped by 25 per cent putting the dairy industry and its producers under significant pressure.

“To mitigate some of the risk posed to his business by the global milk price volatility, David Simcock is seeking to convert part of his farm buildings in to private residential use to establish a rental income.

“The application barn has not served any viable use to the farm operations for the last 10 years and is currently redundant.”

The barn is one of the original surviving buildings on the farm, which was developed between 1842 and 1950.

To view the application use reference number 16/1674M