Horses for courses - Walsingham Planning successfully argue for leisure facility in the Green Belt and an AONB

At an appeal site on the outskirts of High Wycombe the LPA alleged that a site lying within the Green Belt, the AONB and protected by a TPO was not suitable for an 800 sq m all-weather outdoor horse riding arena.

Walsingham Planning were asked to advise the client when the application made on their behalf was refused. The chances of success against the decision looked promising and Walsingham Planning minimised fee costs to the client by recommending a written appeal.

Walsingham Planning was able to persuade an Inspector that this would be an engineering operation, maintaining the openness of the Green Belt, and therefore appropriate development rather than the building works of a non-essential nature which the LPA believed it to be. This may seem a fine linguistic distinction, but it was important from a planning point of view and to the achievement of success.

With landscaping and ecological assistance, Walsingham Planning produced evidence to show how the development was to be integrated into the landscape and how views into the site and from it towards the wider Chilterns AONB would not be prejudiced, even with the lighting of the facility for evening use.

The appeal lodged by Walsingham Planning was successful.