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Search the Public Notice PortalA popular Ribble Valley wedding venue is seeking to formally confirm the lawful status of its long-established mixed-use operations.
This comes months after councillors blocked plans to increase the number of weddings held at the venue.
A new application to Ribble Valley Council does not seek to increase wedding numbers at The Out Barn, but instead asks for a certificate of lawfulness to clarify how the business is categorised in planning terms.
The venue, at Clough Bottom in Rabbit Lane, Bashall Eaves, is currently permitted to host up to 40 weddings or events per calendar year.
In December, councillors refused an application to raise that figure to 100, citing concerns over highway safety and the impact on neighbours.
The latest submission argues that The Out Barn’s lawful use comprises two distinct elements: a commercial corporate training operation and a wedding/events use limited to 40 days per year.
Planning consultants state that the site has operated as a business-to-business training facility since the 1990s, providing short-duration leadership and team-building courses for major national companies.
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Clients have included well-known firms such as Warburtons, Volkswagen, and Johnson Matthey.
The application maintains that this training function falls within Class E (Commercial, Business and Service) under the current Use Classes Order, rather than being an educational or institutional use.
It argues that the venue does not operate as a school or college, has no enrolled students, no academic year, and no formal qualifications framework, and instead provides bespoke commercial services to corporate clients.
The supporting statement also confirms that weddings and events remain restricted to no more than 40 per year, in line with previous permissions, and that operational hours are controlled by conditions imposed under earlier approvals.
If granted, the Certificate of Lawfulness would not expand the venue’s activities but would formally confirm the planning status of its existing mixed-use operations.
The application will be determined by Ribble Valley Council in due course.
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