The enlargement of a previously approved moorland village stables conversion has been granted planning permission.

The changes to the scheme at Sunnyfield Farm, Sunnyfield Lane, Hoddlesden, are because of a change of family circumstances,

Architect Andrew McCluskey, of Darwen-based APM Design Ltd, applied for the single-storey front extension and split-level side extension to the previously approved stable conversion.

It will increase the number of bedrooms from the original one to three.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved the new scheme with three conditions.

A supporting statement submitted with the application said: "The original intention was for an elderly relative to live in the single-bedroom property.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the elderly family member will no longer be able to move into the property.

"The owner's son and daughter-in-law work in Darwen town centre and Royal Blackburn Hospital.

"They would therefore like to live locally and move into the property.

"As a young family, the property under the current planning permission is not big enough for a young and growing family and the applicant would therefore like planning approval to modestly extend to facilitate additional bedrooms.

"As the applicant is the owner of a local award-winning architectural interior design practice it is vital that the scheme is of exceptional architectural merit.

"The proposal will combine the latest architectural and construction practices to sympathetically convert the former stables building.

"The main stable barn doors will remain and hide a glass door opening into the main living space.

"When not in use these stable barn doors can be closed to give the impression of the stable block remaining an agricultural building as opposed to a dwelling.

"What were previously stable doors for the animals will again be repurposed to mask new fully glazed doors, as with the main door opening.

"When these rooms are not in use, the stable doors can be closed to give the external impression of an agricultural stable block.

A report recommending approval by senior planner Christian Barton said: "The application site is redundant stables/storage building, which is located to the east of the village of Hoddlesden and within an allocated Countryside Area.

"This application involves the erection of a single-storey front extension and split-level side extension.

"A dining/lounge area would partly be provided within the proposed front extension with three bedrooms provided within the proposed side extension over both levels.

"The style of the two proposed extensions would be of an adequately high standard of design and they would not be harmful to the character of the existing building, nor its wider setting."