PLANS have been unveiled to create Olympic level dressage facilities in a village.

Assouline Dressage wants to build a new stable block to a field next to Nightingales Farm in Brickhouse Road, Colne Engaine (pictured).

They are hoping for the green light from Braintree Council to build facilities consisting of a part single, part two-storey building and a detached covered riding area.

The application says this would provide facilities for the equestrian business which was previously located at the nearby Brickhouse Farm.

The business would specialise in breeding and training horses for Olympic and Paralympic dressage events.

It would downsize the business from its previous 24 stables at Brickhouse Farm to eight.

Planning officers have recommended the plans for approval, although Colne Engaine Parish Council and some residents have objected to the plans.

The council raised concerns over the building’s size in a countryside location, increased traffic on a narrow country road and inadequate parking

More than 50 objections were received by Braintree Council, with seven people in support of the plans.

One objector said: “The proposed building, by virtue of its design and excessive mass, will result in a form of development which would be out of keeping with the rural character of the locality and would have a detrimental impact upon the character and appearance of the countryside and the wider area.

“There is no way Brickhouse Lane is set up for excessive traffic that granting planning permission to this application would bring.

“This oversized development will have an impact on the surrounding landscape and adjacent residential areas.

“The proposed drainage and waste proposals also seem inadequate with a risk of run-off into the River Peb, which is a clean, spring-fed river with freshwater mussels, crayfish and abundant other wildlife. The application states the buildings will not be visible from any road or public footpath. This is simply not true.”

Braintree Council will rule on the application.