Two stable blocks at Land Adjacent A57 Chesterfield Road, Swallownest

“The applicant seeks retrospective permission for two stable blocks and the change of use of land for the keeping of horses set below the embankment to the A57 bypass. The site is accessed via the existing highway access track which was upgraded by the applicant to serve the fishing pond approved under RB2011/1639, which is still not operational. Grazing land is provided with the stables including a field rented from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.”

“The ‘L’ shaped stable buildings each measure 16 metres by 4 metres and 3.5m high. The buildings are constructed using stained timber cladding with a corrugated roof that overhangs to create a canopy at the front.”

“The application site is land adjacent to a partially constructed fishing pond, located off Chesterfield Road, Swallownest. The site is set between the A57 bypass and a railway line. The site originally formed a sewage works that ceased operation around the 1980s.”

“The site is accessed from the Chesterfield Road, with access being recently improved to accommodate the proposed fishing pond traffic.”

“The Department for Communities and Local Government’s Written Ministerial Statement of 31 August 2015 introduced a clear national policy that intentional unauthorised development should be treated as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals. The Government expressed concern that development carried out without prior consent undermines the integrity of the planning system and removes the opportunity to mitigate harm before it occurs.”

“Having regard to the above it is considered that the proposal would represent not inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would not harm the openness of the Green Belt. As such it is considered to be in accordance with Local Plan Policies SP2 ‘Development in the Green Belt’ and SP10 ‘Proposals for Outdoor Sport, Outdoor Recreation and Cemeteries in the Green Belt’, as well as those within the NPPF.”

“RMBC – Transportation Infrastructure Service: No objections subject to relevant condition preventing livery and a condition requiring that the existing gate is set back 10m from the adopted highway.”

“RMBC – Environmental Health: No objections subject to relevant conditions.”

“Highway safety risks, due to inadequate site access onto the high-speed A57, gate positioning causing vehicles to obstruct live traffic lanes, and dangers associated with horse riders and horseboxes at this location. • Non-compliance with previous planning conditions (RB2011/1639), including failures in drainage provisions, landscaping, tree/hedgerow protection, parking, biodiversity measures, and construction management.”

“Public Right of Way Obstruction: A public footpath runs through the entrance and is allegedly obstructed by gates, pillars and vegetation, with claims this has not been shown on submitted plans contrary to national validation requirements. • Gate Set‑Back & Vehicle Length Issues: Detailed evidence suggests the gate setback distance is inadequate to contain typical vehicles (tractors with trailers, horseboxes), resulting in obstruction of the A57 during access manoeuvres.”

“Landscaping of the site as shown within the submitted Biodiversity Net Gain shall be carried out during the next available planting season. Any plants or trees which within a period of 5 years from completion of planting die, are removed or damaged, or that fail to thrive shall be replaced within the next planting season.”

“Within 3 months of the date of this approval the existing gates at the site entrance to Chesterfield Road shall be repositioned so that they are sited no closer than 10m from the Chesterfield Road carriageway and open inwards only.”

“(3) That applications RB2025/1101 and RB2026/0061 be granted for the reasons adopted by Members at the meeting and subject to the relevant conditions listed in the submitted report.”