Plans to expand elite show jumping horse business in Bolton rejected

A PLANNING inspector has ruled proposals by a Lithuanian national show jumping champion to build nine stables and offices on green belt land ‘would erode the openness of the area’.

Bolton Council previously threw out the plans for the new buildings on Jacks Lane, Westhoughton, which also included a storage area and washdown station for the training of elite show jumping horses.

That decision was appealed but a planning inspectorate inquiry has now backed the rejection of the plans.

The appeal was lodged by Donny and Dawn Janciauskas, who said the proposal would expand their equine business, Sports Horse Continental, which they have run from the site since 2011.

A report sent the the planning inspector in support of the plans said: “Donny Janciauskas is an extremely skilled horseman competing as part of the Lithuanian national show jumping team on a regular basis.

“He and his wife, Dawn, a skilled horsewoman in her own right, train young horses, with show jumping potential for resale.

The horses are sourced in Europe and shipped over in specialised transporters under contract. Some are sold in the UK, the better ones are often exported back to Europe.

“As a result of Donny’s incredible success in the competition ring and Donny and Dawn’s success as trainers they get numerous enquiries from both UK and European horse owners to train horses for them.

“Unfortunately, the Janciauskas’ existing facilities are such they are unable to exploit this opportunity.”

In support of the appeal, veterinary reports which said it would improve the cleaning of horse help treat horses, and with quarantining due to them being imported and exported.

In a decision notice, planning inspector Clive Coyne said the plans would "materially harm the character and appearance of the area".

He added: "The fundamental aim of green belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open as set out in. The proposal would be located within a relatively open area where there is currently no development.

“In simple spatial terms, this has a clear and demonstrable effect on the openness of the green belt.

“The proposal would introduce a sizeable new building to the appeal site which would be located next to the existing large stable block.

“It is also proposed to remove some of the nearby smaller temporary stable buildings.

“According to the submitted plans the proposal would be of a much larger size and scale to the existing stable block and would also be much higher than it.

“The proposal would nonetheless represent a discordant addition to the open rural landscape in the area thereby having a significant adverse visual

impact.

“For these reasons I conclude that the appeal should be dismissed.”

Dawn Janciauskas said that she and her husband were ‘incredibly disappointed’ that their appeal failed.

She said: “Not only would we have been able to employ more people if we’d been able to go ahead the horses would have enjoyed more spacious and better facilities.

“If they had come to us and said build it smaller we would have done but we weren’t given that option.”

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