It is established planning policy, at both national and local level, that new development should be permitted outside established settlements in exceptional circumstances only. These circumstances normally relate to where new development has a strong relationship with the operational requirements of agricultural or other land based businesses. The application site is located in the countryside, and it is not considered that the proposed development, by reason of its character and scale, would support sustainable rural economic development. The proposed development would therefore conflict with Policies CS1, CS10, CS11 and CS25 of the Charnwood Local Plan (2011-2028) Core Strategy, saved Policy CT/1 of the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan and Policies S1, B2 and D2 of the Thrussington Neighbourhood Plan as well as the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework which promote sustainable development and seek to protect the rural character and appearance of the countryside.

The proposed development falls within a Less Vulnerable flood risk classification, as set out in Table 2 of the Flood Zones and Flood Risk tables of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) and confirmed in the Flood Risk Assessment accompanying the planning application. The application site is located within Flood Zone 3b Functional Floodplain which is land defined by the Charnwood Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (December 2018) as having a high probability of flooding. It is national and local policy that development should be directed away from areas at the highest risk of flooding and, in accordance with Tables 1 and 3 of the Flood Zones and Risk tables of the PPG, Less Vulnerable development types are not appropriate and should not be permitted within Flood Zone 3b. Accordingly, the proposal would be contrary to Policy CS16 of the Charnwood Local Plan 2011-2028 Core Strategy and Policies S1, E1 and B2 of the Thrussington Neighbourhood Plan as well as the National Planning Policy Framework and its associated Planning Practice Guidance.

On the basis that the proposal would not represent sustainable rural economic development and having regard to the nature and scale of the business, the proposal would constitute an unwarranted and incongruous intrusion in its rural location which would be damaging to the character and appearance of the countryside and landscape contrary to Policies CS2, CS10 and CS11 of the Charnwood Local Plan (2011-2028) Core Strategy, saved Policies CT/1 and EV/1 of the adopted Borough of Charnwood Local Plan, Policies S1, B2 and D2 of the Thrussington Neighbourhood Plan and the principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, which seek to protect the rural character and appearance of the countryside.