A farm has won planning consent to turn a block of disused stables into bed and breakfast accommodation - even though they are in the green belt.
Thurrock Council's development control committee has granted permission for Chapel Hall Farm, in Baker Street, Orsett, to convert the stables into eight bedrooms with a separate breakfast room and a car park.
Chairman of the committee Tim McMahon said it was Government policy that the re-use or adaptation of existing buildings in the green belt for residential purposes would be permitted provided they meet certain criteria.
He said: "I find that perverse. All you have to do is build stables on green belt land, wait a couple of years and apply for a change of use to a four-bedroomed house.
"In this incidence, we have to accept the officers' advice to grant permission. But this is at the limits of a conversion I would want to allow."
The planning department's report to the committee said: "The East of England Tourist Board felt it would fulfil a need, particularly for business-related tourism."
Published Wednesday October 23, 2002
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