A north-east landowner has made a bid to turn his derelict outbuildings into a new riding school.
Colin Hamilton owns farmland at Backhill of Oldwhat, near New Deer, and has replaced the empty stables at his farm with a new 15,000sqft structure.
He hoped to use the new building as a horse riding school.
But Mr Hamilton could yet be forced to change those plans after he carried out the conversion without planning approval.
His application is currently being determined by the local authority’s planning service.
Stephen Brown, the architect behind the new proposal, has now appealed for council officers to look favourably on the scheme.
“The applicant did not realise that he needed consent at the time of installation,” he wrote in a supporting letter.
“This retrospective planning application has two elements.
“First is the formation of a riding school within the grounds at Backhill of Oldwhat to be used as an all weather turn out and place to train horses.
“Secondly, is the formation of additional solidly built stables to complement the original timber built stables within the steading building.
“Both these elements have been put in place for the applicant’s domestic use to allow him to pursue his riding activities.”
Mr Brown’s firm had earlier worked with the land’s former owners to win planning approval for the conversion of a disused steading.
“Planning consent was granted in 2009 to a previous owner for the conversion of the steading to a dwelling, but this has since lapsed,” he added.”
Mr Hamilton owns six acres of ground, including a farmhouse and the steading, which has been left redundant from previous farming ventures on the site.
The application is open to public consultation until August 8.
