Published 23/9/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

Planning applications have been submitted to restore a historic but severely dilapidated cluster of seventeenth-century farm buildings in the Herefordshire borderlands and convert them into a five-bedroom residential home.

The Grade Two Star listed Glibes Farmhouse and adjoining barns, situated near Michaelchurch Escley, date back to the early sixteen-hundreds. Despite their high heritage status—putting them on a par with landmark structures such as Hereford’s Shire Hall and Leominster’s Grange Court—the site has suffered long-term decline.

Applicant Liam Wilson has submitted proposals for full planning permission and listed building consent to Herefordshire Council.

A planning statement submitted alongside the application highlighted the decades of neglect that have left the historic site in a precarious physical condition.

The statement noted that the site has been "largely neglected since the early twentieth century" and has remained on English Heritage's Heritage at Risk Register since at least two thousand and eight.

Describing the current state of the farmhouse, adjoining barn, and cowhouse as "very bad" and undergoing "slow decay", the application emphasized the structural urgency of the work.

The planning statement added: "Structurally, the areas of most concern are severely leaning walls."

The comprehensive restoration scheme involves stabilizing and reinforcing the leaning stone walls, complete re-roofing across the complex, and rebuilding a previously demolished barn extension using reclaimed original stonework. A collapsed link range and stable would also be reconstructed, uniting the structures into a single two-storey family residence.

Preserving internal heritage features forms a central part of the application design.

The applicant stated: "Internally, features such as wood panelling and fireplaces will be carefully retained and repaired if necessary."

Environmental mitigation measures are also included in the scheme to protect local wildlife currently using the structures.

The applicant noted there would be "new standalone accommodation for bats to mitigate the loss of their current habitats in the house and barns."

Additional elements of the development plan feature four timber holiday cabins, a three-bay carport, a ground-mounted solar panel array, and extensive screening planting to blend the site into the surrounding countryside.

Public consultation on the planning applications remains open for comments until October fifteenth, with a formal decision expected from council planners by November fourth.