The application sought permission to convert an existing stable block on land north of Boot Lane, Smithills, into a one-bedroom dwelling. Officers concluded the development would still have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing stables. A report said permanent residential use would introduce lighting, parked vehicles, refuse storage, outdoor seating and other domestic features that would erode the rural character of the site and amount to encroachment into the countryside. Current layout of the stables (Image: Bolton Council)Officers also said insufficient ecological information had been submitted to properly assess the potential impact on bats, with a recommended survey not having been carried out. Eight letters of objection were submitted, with concerns including the impact on the Green Belt, wildlife and the site's rural setting.