School Lane, Rainhill, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 6NW

the replacement of 2no horse stables and ancillary facilities

Authority: St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: agricultural · Other minor developments
Inspector: Watson S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
The effect on the openness of the Green Belt
Would the harm by reason of inappropriateness be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The building provides facilities disproportionate to the two-horse stabling use and causes substantial harm to Green Belt openness, which is not clearly outweighed by the appellant's personal benefits from improved stabling provision.

The improvements to stabling quality were outweighed by the harm to the Green Belt, with no very special circumstances demonstrated to justify the inappropriate development.

Framework references: 137, 147, 148, 149

Plan policies cited: Policy GB1, Policy GB2

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

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Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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