A family who have given up farming in Seend have failed in their bid to remove a planning condition stipulating a bungalow must be lived in by an agricultural worker.

Victoria Haines applied to Wiltshire Council for the agricultural occupancy restriction on a bungalow at Little Thornham Farm to be removed because her family had ceased beef production six years ago and sold most of the land to another farmer.

She lives in an annexe on the farm while her son, Nick Haines, lives in the main farmhouse. Mr Haines had to give up farming after he suffered a stroke three years ago.

The farm, in Trowbridge Road, consists of eight acres and 14 sheep are kept on the land to keep the grass down.

The bungalow was built in 1966 when the site was a dairy farm supporting two families, including the Haines.

The Haines family have marketed the bungalow for sale since June 2011 at a price of £295,000, which is 15 per cent less than its value would be without the agricultural occupancy condition.

Wiltshire Council says the discount in price should be 30 per cent and marketed for six months to gauge interest. Planning manager Mike Wilmott said this had not been done, so giving permission would set a precedent.

The council’s eastern area planning committee on Thursday was told Mr Haines had contacted ten farmers in three parishes to ask if they wanted to buy the bungalow but none were interested.