AN equestrian centre which has survived the economic downturn by making profits during a three-year trial period but faced the chop has been given full approval.
Council planners followed the advice of their officers to give approval for the barn conversion and new stables at Cobby Castle Equestrian Centre, in Bishopton.
The owners of the business, as well as their new seven-year-old son, had been living in a temporary caravan on the land for three years to prove the business was viable.
However, villagers and Bishopton Parish Council had objected to the scheme on a number of reasons including the sustainability of the business during the economic downturn.
The application for the centre was to convert a barn and stables into a permanent home for the Wood family.
As a result, they also wanted to build three replacement stables in the form of an enclosed yard to continue running their business.
The accommodation would include a kitchen, living room, playroom and three bedrooms.
The five stables would be split between two in the barn conversion, and three in the new block.
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