The owners of Rally Karting, in Huntingdon, have been told their security concerns are not a good enough reason to build a house in order to live next to the business.

Rally Karting had said without an owner or manager being able to live next to the track they may not be able to continue running the business.

A planning inspector said they recognised the business had faced “severe difficulties” with security, however, they said the security concerns on its own were not enough to allow a new home to be built in the countryside.

The owners of the business, based in Sapley Road, had asked for permission to build a new three-bedroom home near to the karting track where the owner or manager could live.

The plans were blocked by Huntingdonshire District Council last year on the basis that “insufficient justification” had been given that building the new home would meet the “limited and specific” reasons that allow for development in the countryside.

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The business owners appealed to the planning inspectorate to try and overturn the district council’s decision.

However, the planning inspector said they agreed with the authority and dismissed the appeal.

In the planning inspector’s report they highlighted that the karting business had been running for over 30 years, and that the current owners had been able to run the business while living four miles away in Houghton.

The inspector said they recognised the “severe difficulties” the business had faced with security, but said they did not think on-site accommodation was needed to run the business.

The planning inspector said: “There is considerable evidence regarding the history of break-ins and theft.

“The appellant advises that theft is an influencing factor in the success of the two businesses.

“It results in financial loss but also the failure of the businesses to deliver the promised experience to customers with late cancellations due to equipment being stolen or damaged.

“There is therefore a loss of revenue, loss of organisational costs such as catering and possible loss of goodwill and future bookings.

“The appellant has advised that as of October 2023, the business cannot obtain insurance and that without permission to reside-on-site. It is likely that the business will be unable to continue trading.”

Despite recognising the concerns the inspector said the security issue on its own was not enough to justify building a home in the countryside under planning policy.