PLANS to convert part of a farm storage building in Blakedown into a horse hospital have been halted.

Wyre Forest District Council's planning (development control) committee rejected the bid by Clent Hills Veterinary Group for a building at New House Farm, Belbroughton Road.

The proposal was for half of the building, which is used as an agricultural and general engineering workshop, to be made into an equine hospital with two or three employees.

But councillors backed the verdict of planning officer Paul Wrigglesworth, who said the scheme amounted to over-development of the green belt site.

The applicant said there would only be about six per cent extra traffic to the surgery, which would have one visitor a day and possibly up to two emergencies at weekends.

Mr Wrigglesworth said: "The lack of immediately available car parking would increase the tendency of vehicles to be parked in more prominent locations to the detriment of the appearance of the green belt."