High eldwick plan recommended for refusal

The couple have submitted a planning application to build a new stable block with an area to rehabilitate injured racehorses near their Craiglands Farm business in Otley Road, High Eldwick, Bingley.

If approved, nine new stables, a new tack room and stores would be built on an area of land currently used for training horses and racing practice, known as the ‘gallops’.

There will also be a house for a supervisor built on the site under the proposals, which will be discussed by councillors tomorrow.

However, Bradford Council officers are recommending the planning application is refused because the site the couple want to build on is in an area of designated green belt.

There have to be “very special circumstances” to build on the green belt and Mr and Mrs Smith have “failed to demonstrate” those circumstances, according to a report to the Shipley Area Planning Panel.

The report reads: “A block of nine new stables plus the equivalent of four more to form stores and tack rooms would exceed what might be reasonably regarded as ‘small scale’.

“It follows that the stable development here is inappropriate and contrary to green belt policy as a matter of fact and, therefore, the proposed new dwelling is unjustified and equally unacceptable.”

Planners have said that for them to consider an application to build on the green belt, any new buildings must be near existing buildings or out of site. The couple’s plans are to build on open land about 300 metres away from the main farm.

However, they have argued that, because the stables will be used for ill horses, they need to be far away from Craiglands Farm, to stop diseases spreading.

The report goes on: “It is acknowledged that the nature of the applicant’s business, involving the wide-ranging movement of equines for competition reasons, may give rise to the need for quarantine.”

Mr and Mrs Smith were unavailable for comment.