Hopes of turning an outbuilding into a home office have been dashed after planning officials decided it was more likely to be for a business.

Sarah Oakley wanted to turn the wooden building in her garden at The Coach House, Clayway Farm at Queen Adelaide into an office for her work as a breastfeeding and lactation consultant.

But her application for a certificate of lawfulness for the use has been refused by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Planning officer Sarah Ratcliffe, who prepared a report on Mrs Oakley’s application, said: “Whilst physically meeting the tests outlined in Class E, the question is whether the proposed use of the building could be considered as ‘incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse’.”

Her report points out that use of an outbuilding as a home office normally fits this criteria but “further information submitted as part of the application infers a commercial operation”.

In her application Mrs Oakley explains she could use the building for up to 10 hours per week to see clients for breastfeeding support and tongue tie division services with each client being seen for approximately one hour.

However, Ms Ratcliffe recommended the application for refusal stating: “The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the use of the building will be as a ‘home office’ rather than a business and therefore on the balance of probability, its use cannot be considered as a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of The Coach House.”