Proposed development - potential disaster

[Nimster]

Morning

I'm not quite sure where to start as I'm in a bit of a state about this. We've had notification from the council that one of our neighbours has submitted an application to build on the land at the rear of our property. At present, the land is used for training horses and they now want to put a canopy over the training area. The problem is, the canopy will be 20m wide, 40m long and 7m high. This will run the entire length of our boundary wall, and will completely dominate our garden.

We were in the process of submitting our own application to put french doors in so we could enjoy the garden - if the barn goes through, we will never enjoy it again as that will be all we can see

I know we can't appeal on the grounds that we'll lose our view - I'm not bothered about that so much - it's the fact it will be 10 times the size of our house and completely undisguisable that bothers me. Can anyone think of reasonable legal justifications for objecting? At present I'm thinking:

1. it will completely dominate our entire property
2. the size is totally out of keeping with the village

Probably non-usable arguments are:

1. it will devalue our house massively
2. they have other land they could build on
3. it's going to be built in steel and aluminium so it won't even try to blend (as much as a structure the size of an aircraft hanger can)

Please help - we're really really worried about this

 

[Nemesis]

If it's deemed agricultural you could have problems, but object by all means.

Are you in a conservation area? That would help. Any listed buildings adjacent?

 

[Nimster]

Hi

It shouldn't be considered agricultural as it's for the owners daughter to train her dressage horses on.

I've checked and it's greenbelt, so that may give us some leverage as it doesn't appear to fit within their boundaries of an "appropriate" build.

Listing buildings - yes, our house is listed! I've already emailed the CO to see if he can offer any guidance and pointed out that, if it gets the go-ahead, there won't be much point in us renovating the house as we may as well throw our money on the fire since the house will be unsellable with a whacking great barn overshadowing everything.

 

[Nemesis]

Which it will of course affect the setting of... green belt may well help. Also look at local plans etc.