Plans for indoor horse arena for Blackwater Equestrian near Romsey could be approved next week

A planning application was submitted to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) to build the arena on land at Oak Tree Farm, Foxes Lane, West Wellow.

The plans, submitted by Blackwater Equestrian, would see 13 car parking spaces being built on the site.

Now, the proposals could be approved at TVBC's Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday, November 17.

The plans were due to be looked at by the planning committee on Tuesday (October 27), however they were deferred.

It was not confirmed why the plans were pushed back.

This comes after critics of the plans claimed the building would tower over the area and resemble an “industrial estate”.

Others believe it will increase the risk of flooding if given the go-ahead by planning chiefs.

However, one of the owners of Blackwater Equestrian, Mark Hallion, claimed the “last thing they want” is for the arena to look like an industrial estate, ensuring residents they will only see a “green roof” to reflect the area.

Julie Cooper, who lives in The Drove, said: “We have so much traffic using the lane, including vehicles going to the existing covered indoor horse arena at Foxhills Equestrian up the road.

“We are concerned that if this application goes ahead, we will experience more severe flooding in the future."

She added that floodwater also "contributes to the degradation of the road”.

Criticising the size of the building, Philip Stenner, who lives in Buttons Lane, said it would be “massive and more akin to a warehouse on an industrial estate than in a country lane”.

He added: "[In the] winter there have been issues with flooding in Foxes Lane close to this site; if this application goes ahead it is likely to cause more run-off into the pond and onto the lane.

“This could potentially flood Hatches Farm on the opposite side of the lane which is lower-lying.”

As previously reported in the Romsey Advertiser, Mr Hallion said the "last thing we want is for it to look like an industrial estate", adding "it will be level and there will be a grass bank around it, so the only thing people will see is a green roof".

The 56-year-old also stressed part of the plans will address flooding concerns with an “improved drainage system”, where water will “only be released gradually back into the ground”.

“We have also offered to dig out the whole pond and tidy up the area,” Mr Hallion added.

TVBC has been contacted for comment.