PLANS to build a storage building on land outside Oswestry have been knocked back by Shropshire Council.

The application was for the building of a domestic storage unit at Draingwinion, in Nantmawr near Oswestry, which has a traditional cottage and outbuildings on land near Quarry Lane.

According to a planning statement, the application stated the land had already been prepared by the applicants who were unaware of the need for permission.

But Shropshire Council planning case officer Sara Robinson's report into the application stated that the development would not be appropriate for its location in open countryside.

She said: "The proposed development would result in a domestic outbuilding being located within the open countryside which is not of an appropriate design or scale for its intended use."

She added: "The building is considered to be too large for the purpose of reasonable domestic storage and is not of a suitable design or scale for the intended use.

"The development would also be sited outside of the residential curtilage.

"It is noted that there are site constraints which limit the siting of the proposed development; however insufficient justification has been submitted to support the need for such a large domestic storage building.

"The supporting statement indicates that the building will be used to house a mechanical digger which is not considered to be domestic.

"It is noted that there are existing outbuildings within the domestic curtilage; however no reasons have been given as to why there cannot be utilised for domestic storage and DIY.

"It is also noted that ground works have been undertaken and retaining walls have been erected in order to site the proposed building prior to the submission of an application."

The officer's report also acknowledged one opposing comment from a nearby ramblers group, who objected to the development on the grounds of its size and location.

It said: "We are objecting to this application because the proposed structure is far too large for this location and will stick out like a 'sore thumb' on the slopes of the Moelydd.

"The field to the west of the proposed site is the start of an area of Open Access Land that stretches all along the southern slope of the Moelydd.

"Moreover, the location, at the end of a narrow one kilometre long very minor road of limited width is unsuitable for the storage of many domestic goods."