PLANS for domestic leisure facilities have been approved at a rural home in the Tyne Valley.

A planning application was submitted to Northumberland County Council by the agent Elliott Architects Ltd to create a new double garage, a garden store, and a detached gym with accompanying outdoor pool and landscaping works, at Apperley Dene, Lead Road in Stocksfield, which is located within the green belt.

A design and access statement by Elliott Architects submitted with the application said: "The host dwelling sits in a generous plot of approximately 13,600 square meters and despite being a very large property it currently has no garage, outbuildings or external storage provisions to support the generous property and gardens.

"In addition to the gym, our clients wish to remove a later addition, a large carport canopy, and replace this structure with a more suitable and useful garage, which would offer better protection and security for vehicles and garden equipment. It is unusual for a property of this size to have no external or garden storage facilities, necessary for maintenance machinery and tool storage."

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It stated the proposed buildings are simple in design and materials. Both buildings are to be built behind the house to avoid any obvious visual impact on the applicant's home.

"Vehicular access to the proposed garage is via the existing driveway, with no adaptation required to the current site arrangement. A small outdoor pool is proposed to be concealed beyond the garage and adjacent to the gym in an existing terraced area."

An objection was submitted by Stocksfield Parish Council, which claimed it is "inappropriate development in the green belt".

The application was approved by Northumberland County Council on March 26.

An officer's report, submitted after the application was approved, concluded: "The proposed building is considered to be of an appropriate scale and design which is subservient to the existing dwelling and would not detract from the character or appearance of the surrounding area or openness of the green belt in this location."

For more information, go to the council's planning portal and search reference number 24/00116/FUL.