The local planning authority considers that the stables, by reason of their size, design and use of materials, would appear unduly large and incongruous and would constitute an unwarranted intrusion into the countryside which would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the rural area and contrary to saved Policies CT/1, CT/2, CT/13 and EV/1 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan.

The access to the site is not included within the application site. Notwithstanding this, the existing access serving the site lacks adequate width and radii to allow vehicles to manoeuvre safely into and out of the public highway and its lack of hard, bound surfacing would be likely to lead to mud, stones etc being deposited in the highway. It is the opinion of the local planning authority that the increased use of this substandard access as a result of this proposed development would be detrimental to highway safety and thus contrary to saved Policies TR/6 and CT/13 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan.

The proposal, due to its size and the number of horses likely to be housed in the stables, would lead to pressure for the erection of an associated dwelling on the site. Saved Policy CT/13 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan states that proposals for larger scale riding stables or similar estabishments should only be permitted where there is an existing dwelling. No such dwelling exists in this case and, therefore, the proposal is contrary to this Policy.