Turning an equestrian centre into a new housing development would ‘urbanise’ a rural area a planning inspector has said.

An appeal to redevelop the Northbrook Equestrian Centre and build 28 new homes was dismissed by the national planning body after concerns were raised about the development’s impact on the countryside.

A planning application was originally submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council by the owners of the equestrian centre in New Road, near Offord Cluny, to redevelop the site.

Planning documents said the centre and associated grazing paddocks could be considered previously developed land.

It said the proposals offered to create a sustainable development and said 40 per cent of the houses would be made available as affordable housing.

The plans added that the redevelopment was being proposed as the owners of the equestrian centre were looking to retire.

The owners lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate after the district council failed to make a decision on the plans within the prescribed period of time.

The planning inspector who assessed the application decided to dismiss the appeal, stating the equestrian centre was in an “inappropriate location” for the proposed redevelopment.

The inspector said they had concerns about the number of people who could end up living in the proposed development, due to its distance from the nearby village.

They said: “Residents of the proposed dwellings would need to travel in order to access the services and facilities that they are likely to require on a regular basis, given the lack of facilities in the immediate surroundings of the appeal site.

“The existing road does not feature separate environments for pedestrians or cyclists.

“In addition, the proposed development does not feature street lighting.

“This, when combined with the distance that residents would need to travel, means that cycling or walking would not be attractive travel options for the future occupiers of the proposed development.

“In consequence, it is likely that the proposed development would result in an increase in the overall use of private cars as a means of travel.”

The planning inspector also said they believed the development would have an “urbanising effect” on the area.