‘Centre of excellence’ planned for Upper Lambourn

The proposals are for a new block of 36 stables at Weathercock House Stables and Training Centre, with three homes for trainers and their families, a hostel providing bedsit accommodation for 13 stable staff and a new, circular exercise walker.
In addition there would be a new access for pedestrians and horses between the site and the High Street. Two buildings would be removed - one small stable range and one steel framed store.
In their proposal, the agents for applicant Malcolm Denmark, Graham Ash Architects, state: “In order to cater for the need for staff employed at the stables, a new hostel building is proposed.
“The existing hostel building has proved to be a great success and there is a waiting list for this type of accommodation within the village.” They go on to state that “the rural nature of the site and its effect on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has been considered.”
The application concludes: “The intention is to create a centre of excellence for the training and care of racing horses. The existing stables have been underused for the past years and these works and investment will provide a much needed boost for the local economy.”
Lambourn Parish Council has yet to express a view on the proposals.
There has been one formal response from the public so far - an objection from High Street resident Annette Park.
She states: “My concern with any new development in this area is that the sewage/drainage system is under extreme pressure
at present. I first noticed the manholes in the High Street surcharging in September 2010 and corresponded frequently with West Berkshire Council about the situation. Since then we have also had the problem of flooding mixed with the discharged effluent. This is not only unpleasant but also a health hazard.”
No date has yet been set for a decision by planners.
The full application can be viwed and commented at West Berkshire Council’s planning portal using the reference 13/01933/COMIND