BARNS will remain derelict until neighbours can settle two years of talks.

August Blake want to demolish and convert barns at Pear Tree Farm, Marthall, into seven homes.

But their plans have been delayed because they need permission from Richard Scott to alter part of his land.

Last week Knutsford area planners rejected the proposal after a deadline for an agreement was missed. "It's very sad when you go to Macclesfield because what's behind the leaves is a blot on the landscape," said Clr George Walton.

"We should be looking at ways forward not just killing the whole thing off. It's a general disgrace and we are not helping matters." August Blake, who are based on the Parkgate Industrial Estate, applied to convert the barns in August 2002. But the Highways Authority said visibility for drivers leaving the site had to be improved before the conversion started. Talks followed between the developers and Mr Scott, who owns the adjacent land, but by last week they had proved 'inconclusive.' Macclesfield Borough Council said the company might now take legal action against Mr Scott to allow them to do the work. August Blake will now struggle to get permission for the development because of the council's ban on new houses. Borough officers stopped the developer continuing work on the site after builders removed the barn roofs. It has left them exposed and the council fears the buildings may not be suitable to convert. On Monday ward councillor Sue Kipling said deadlines for progress at the farm - which has also been home to Mr Scott's car boot sales - had changed several times. "I don't think I've ever known a 106 agreement come back to committee like this before," she said. "It is now going to be difficult to resolve, but it had to be resolved because they'd had deadline after deadline."