Consultees on planning applications are only allowed to comment on what is presented to them. They cannot make comment any other matters, even if there are alternatives which are preferable to unsympathetic development. A virtually unknown loophole round this, is to submit a listed building consent application to the council yourself. Unlike a planning application, there is no cost in submitting a listed building consent application. Legally you do not need to own the site to submit a listed building consent.
A listed building consent application could formally document the restoration of a site, or suggest an alternative use. This allows everyone involved to formally comment on the merits your alternative plans for the site, which they couldn't do previously.
You will need to submit plans of the site, which may mean you require the services of an architect. At Nether Ardgrain we drafted our own plans and there is no reason why you can't submit your own plans either provided they meet the minimum planning department guidelines. It is our intention to do the repairs we have documented. You may not wish to do so on your own listed building consent application - there is no obligation to do the repairs yourself if you submit a listed building consent application.
The full details of our listed building consent application at the Ardgrain site can be viewed as a helpful guide to show what is required.