Plans for Lambourn Woodlands business park rejected

Controversial plans to create a small business park in the countryside have been refused.

The proposals had generated 16 letters of objection and four in support of the project at Fox Farm on Ermin Street, Lambourn Woodlands.

The buildings were permitted to be used as a farriery and veterinary surgery only, in 2005, with a condition which stated: "The premises shall be used for an equine veterinary practice and farrier equipment storage only and for no other purposes.”

The new application stated: “When the veterinary surgery and farriers operation ceased trading occupancy at the Fox Farm premises, the Eastridge Estate were not aware that letting the units for different commercial business and service uses would contravene the previous consent [for the vet’s and farriers].

“Policy support for the rural economy and existing premises/businesses applies in the case of Fox Farm – especially where established businesses and use of the site has a track record of being successful, as well as problem free.”

However, one letter of objection stated: “We live on the B4000, a country road totally unsuited to the proposed increase in traffic.

“There are frequent accidents, near misses and horrendous traffic jams already whenever the M4 is closed - which happens too regularly.

“This is an area of outstanding natural beauty with nature to protect.

“This is a retrospective application showing the total disregard for the correct planning protocols.”

Another stated: “I am writing to object to Fox Farm’s application.

“This owner has already been operating his business without suitable planning permission.

“He continues to do so while asking for what I believe is now the third attempt at retrospective permission.

“This should be totally unacceptable to planning, let alone the local community who live alongside this busy road.”

The Woodlands Protection Group objected, stating: “This site had consent for a veterinary and farrier businesses, totally in concert with the rural location in an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural beauty) on an unclassified road.

“The owners changed the use of the site but failed to obtain a new planning consent. They submitted a retrospective planning application which was refused [in June 2023].

“Trading continued on the site; a new planning application was submitted in June 2023.

“This was also refused; trading still continued - now we have this new application.”

A planning officer’s report stated the project was out of keeping with the rural area and concluded: “There would likely be higher levels of traffic and noise generated which would alter the character of the setting and disturb nearby residents.”