Neighbours have weighed in on a planning dispute between a property owner and the local council in a Nottinghamshire village. Plans for a large house at the former riding stables in Lambley, off of Main Street, have been refused once again in a years long dispute that has been heard by the High Court.
The site was last purchased in 2018 with outline permission already in place to develop the existing stables into one house, with a maximum floor space of 240 square metres. The applicant, Phillip Proctor, has had two different house plans approved for the site but wanted to add a garage in place of the currently derelict stable buildings, applying to do this in 2020.
The council argued would be larger than the previously agreed maximum floor space. This planning application was refused in May 2020 as the council said the proposal was contrary to its Green Belt Policy.
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Following the refusal, the applicant appealed the decision, which was then reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate in October 2021, who agreed with the council’s decision. The inspector's decision was challenged by the applicant and quashed, before being reheard by the Inspectorate who again found in favour of the council, upholding the refusal in March 2022.
Neighbours expressed mixed views about the project which had rumbling on for years since outline permission was given in 2016. David and Sandra Chambers, who are in their 70s and neighbour the site, said that they were unsure on whether the planned house would ever be built.
"Our view from day one was that it was no longer viable as a stables and we were quite happy with a barn conversion. We accept that what was there is 'rendering down' to use a country term, but a rebuild in the rural style would be accepted," Mr Chambers said.
"Anything bigger or more grand than a barn conversion though would be out of keeping with the area. Then there's the issue that the Lambley conservation area is right on the property."
Mrs Chambers added: "I do not know if will ever happen at this rate, the initial approval was in 2016. You could say it was becoming Lambley's Broadmarsh."
Lawrence Milbourn, 74, a Lambley Parish councillor whose property backs onto the site, said: "I think the way he has been treated is disgraceful. When I look out from my garden at what is there now I think that anything would be better, the barns have fallen into disrepair.
"All of the four or five different applications, however many it is now, seemed perfectly acceptable. [The owner] has been a real asset to the village, and if he decided to move on after all this hassle that would be a big loss."
An resident of Main Street, who wished to stay anonymous, said: "I don't have a problem with it going ahead. It is a bit of a tricky one really because I get both sides.
"I like it when villages look old and quaint. I guess we will have to wait and see if it happens - and then whether it fits in and is sympathetic. If it is then I won't mind at all."
In the most recent appeal the property owner had also applied for costs against the council on the grounds that they had acted ‘unreasonably’ in refusing the application, but this was also dismissed. Portfolio Holder for Growth and Regeneration at Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth said: “As with all planning applications there are planning policies to be complied with especially in relation to development within the Green Belt, which seek to protect openness.
"Council officers have offered advice to the applicant throughout the planning process to ensure a satisfactory form of development. There are planning permissions on the site for a scheme.
"However the approved scheme may not be as large as the applicant may have wanted. To do so would have been contrary to Green Belt policy.
"I’d like to thank the Planning Inspectorate for taking the time to hear this appeal case, as well as to our officers who have worked on numerous planning applications on the site.”
