Contrary to perceived trends in the leisure industry, equine activities are proving increasingly popular.
As the number of agricultural jobs declines in rural communities so small parcels of land are being sold off to purchasers who are hoping to keep their horses on these plots but are unaware that they may need planning permission.
Farmers are looking into ways to diversify their activities and commercial equestrian uses such as livery or riding schools are common. Farmers may sell or let farm buildings or land to purchasers to create a separate business. These uses will require planning permission and careful thought should go into the application to make it acceptable to planners. Buildings and equipment associated with ‘horsiculture’ should be sympathetically sited to avoid a negative impact upon the surrounding landscape.
Erecting a stable within the curtilage of a house may not, in some circumstances, require planning permission depending on the size and provided the horses are kept as pets. Some mobile field shelters may not require planning permission, depending on size, construction, physical attachment to the ground and intended degree of permanence.
It is always an advantage for equestrian uses to utilise existing agricultural buildings but a change of use permission will be required for conversion to stables, tack rooms etc. It will also be necessary for car parking and other outdoor activities such as manèges, floodlights and horse walkers.
On those sites where equine facilities have been established over a number of years a Certificate of Lawfulness (CLEUD) could be submitted. Once granted, this would mean that the use of the building or land would become lawful and prevent the Local Authority from implementing enforcement action.
Paragraph 32 of the Government’s Planning Policy Statement 7 (PPS7) states ‘Horse riding and other equestrian activities are popular forms of recreation in the countryside that can fit in well with farming activities and help to diversify rural economies. In some parts of the country, horse training and breeding businesses play an important economic role. Local planning authorities should set out in their LDDs (Local Development Documents) their policies for supporting equine enterprises that maintain environment quality and countryside character’.
‘These policies should provide for a range of suitably located recreational and leisure facilities and, where appropriate, for the needs of training and breeding businesses. They should also facilitate the re-use of farm buildings for small-scale horse enterprises (enterprises involving up to ten horses) that provide a useful form of farm diversification’.
With these facts in mind anyone who is considering developing an equine business should research carefully into the local planning issues at an early stage in the enterprise.
For further information, contact Matthew Allen on 01295 226287 email matthew.allen@fishergerman.co.uk
