URGENT repairs are earmarked for an unsafe listed barn at Goostrey.

Millbank Barn consists of a 17th timber-framed barn, with a 19th century brick extension, and is situated near other buildings on Mill Bank Farm.

The barn is grade 2 listed, and is considered to be of special architectural or historic interest.

In recent times it has been used as a calving shed for cattle on a working farmstead, and is partly fitted out with concrete stalls.

The property is in a poor state of repair, and emergency works has been carried out in the past two years with Cheshire East Council conservation officers to prevent further deterioration until remedial repairs could be undertaken.

A report said the 17th century structure was currently not in use because it was unsafe, and the 19th century extension was used for storage.

It added that the 17th century barn should be considered of medium to high significance, particularly architecturally, due to surviving timber trusses.

The planned repairs include removing the modern blockwork cattle pens in the barn to improve access for roof maintenance, adding structural straps to the rafters, infilling brick panels and major repairs to the oak frame.

Cheshire East Council is seeking listed building consent from the authority for the urgent repairs.

A report was commissioned by the authority into the condition of the barn in response to concerns over its structural integrity.

The report by Elgan Jones of Purcell said: “The building has suffered from weathering and general degradation of exposed timbers, which has caused longstanding movement, distortion and damage to parts of the aged timber frame and original fabric.

“There is other recent damage, with a small local collapse occurring in early summer 2017 to the front middle section.

“This has necessitated emergency propping and some shoring up of the load-bearing frame stable to make the building safe and reasonably secure for the time being.”

The report outlined possible future uses of the barn, including retaining it for agricultural use by the tenant farmer, the option requiring the smallest financial input for the conversion and ongoing maintenance.

The other suggested options are conversion for a long-term rental or short-term holiday let, its adaptation to create a flexible event space or space for start-up or small-scale light industrial companies such as micro-breweries, and conversion for office use.

The report said there were organisations which could provide grants specifically for the repair of listed buildings.