REVISED outline plans to build multiple stables have been unanimously backed by councillors despite concerns it will still impact the greenbelt.

Owners of Copas Farm in Cookham, Maidenhead, had their plans approved to build 16 stables arranged in a single building with associated access and 12 car parking spaces at Lower Mount Farm.

This is an outline planning application, which means the applicant is seeking if the Royal Borough Council agrees with the development in principle before submitting a full planning application.

Previous plans to build 30 stables and two fouling boxes with 32 car parking spaces were refused by councillors and was dismissed on appeal by a planning inspector, who ruled the size and scale of the development would impact the green belt’s openness.

Planners went back to the drawing board with a reduced scheme, but this didn’t quash the concerns from objectors.

READ MORE: Maidenhead: Outline plans for 16 stables set to be decided

The application was called in by Cookham councillor Mandy Brar (Lib Dem) for members sitting on the Maidenhead development management panel to decide if officers recommended approval as she believed the plan would still harm the greenbelt and was concerned with the vehicle access and parking.

Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday, February 16, Dick Scarf from the Cookham Society objected to the scheme, saying the owners should ‘re-purpose’ existing buildings on the site into stables rather than build a new building that will harm the green belt.

Geoffrey Copas from Copas Farm said the scheme has been scaled down drastically and planning officers find the new plan acceptable. He also said the inspector did find the development appropriate on green belt land but disagreed with the scale and size.

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He added the local area “desperately needs” land for stables and grazing for horses following the closure of three facilities.

Cllr Geoff Hill (TBF: Oldfield) moved a motion to approve the scheme in line with the officer’s recommendations. This was seconded by Cllr Maureen Hunt (Con: Hurley & Walthams).

Cllr Hunt said: “This is a countryside sport, leisure activity and that’s what we need. We’re in the countryside, we’ve got 83 per cent green belt, and let’s utilise it for the benefits of our residents.”

The scheme was unanimously backed by councillors.