Agricultural vs Equestrian Use - Planning Application

[starbucker]

As above really, does anyone have experience in the success of this application. Land currently classed as agricultural has had horses on for around 7+years and needs change of use for equestrian and ideally stables built. The land is also greenbelt...

The horses on the land actually died previously due to starvation and I wonder if the planning policy contributed to this. Agriculture use states you cant hard feed nor rug your horses which I find absolutely absurd who wrote these rules, surely an update to these restrictive planning policies.

Hoping for advice to assist friend with said field

 

[poiuytrewq]

We have switched land from agri to equine. We don't own it and the owners did the leg work. I did have to sign a license saying I won't supplementary feed!! Obviously i do, no one has mentioned anything though and its very obvious i do!

 

[starbucker]

We have switched land from agri to equine. We don't own it and the owners did the leg work. I did have to sign a license saying I won't supplementary feed!! Obviously i do, no one has mentioned anything though and its very obvious i do!

Its pretty absurd whats a bucket of feed got to do with anything! Not many horses I know these days live off grass alone and not a single rug, especially with the state fields have got in this winter

 

[Honey08]

We didn’t change our lane from agricultural and still got planning for stables.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Can you go down the mixed use option if you ever change it? A friend of mine had a huge stable block and 22x60 dressage arena on separate planning applications and the council never said anything about it needing changing. My previous houses land was still classes as agricultural too but sold as an equestrian property.

 

[starbucker]

Planners have said needs change of use and planning for stable block but not sure they would support due to affecting openness of the greenbelt. Would be a great topic to be covered in the next Jeremy Clarkson Season since he loves picking fights with the planning department ..

 

[suestowford]

I wanted to put up a barn in a remote field. The field was used mostly for cattle, but in winter I'd put my ponies on it.
Agricultural planning fee was £70, but as I wanted to use it for the ponies in winter I had to pay domestic planning fee of nearly £400. They said I could do it as a agricultural building but if they ever saw ponies in the barn they could take me to court over it. I was steaming mad but I paid.
The point of this is, I was never advised to change use of the land at any point. That was never mentioned, and you'd think they would have, if only to screw more money out of us.

 

[honetpot]

As above really, does anyone have experience in the success of this application. Land currently classed as agricultural has had horses on for around 7+years and needs change of use for equestrian and ideally stables built. The land is also greenbelt...

The horses on the land actually died previously due to starvation and I wonder if the planning policy contributed to this. Agriculture use states you cant hard feed nor rug your horses which I find absolutely absurd who wrote these rules, surely an update to these restrictive planning policies.

Hoping for advice to assist friend with said field

I think it all depends where it is and what the local council is like. Just up the road from me 10 acre field with no house attached got planning for a livery yard, parking and all weather surface, not enough land and its heavy clay, to support that amount of stables. Outside the village, no footpath.
The irony was the chap that bought it just wanted it for grazing but they turned down another application on some other land he owns so now he has started putting down the carpark.
Looking at previous applications in your area and the comments would perhaps give you a better idea.

 

[starbucker]

I wanted to put up a barn in a remote field. The field was used mostly for cattle, but in winter I'd put my ponies on it.
Agricultural planning fee was £70, but as I wanted to use it for the ponies in winter I had to pay domestic planning fee of nearly £400. They said I could do it as a agricultural building but if they ever saw ponies in the barn they could take me to court over it. I was steaming mad but I paid.
The point of this is, I was never advised to change use of the land at any point. That was never mentioned, and you'd think they would have, if only to screw more money out of us.

Unfortunately some neighbours reported them to the council. you'd think people had better things to do with their time

 

[ihatework]

I'm just about to receive planning permission (hopefully this week) on just over 6 ac res of agricultural land in an AONB. Change of use to equestrian, 50sqm of equestrian building and 400sqm of hardstanding.

I will however need to plant approximately 150m of new hedgerow and there will be a 2m field perimeter of improved grassland.

It's gone/going through relatively easily although with restrictions on external lighting.

 

[scruffyponies]

Use of a rug has nothing to do with it. Grazing horses can wear what they like.

 

[blitznbobs]

Use of a rug has nothing to do with it. Grazing horses can wear what they like.

As can grazing cattle … if it’s a welfare issue

 

[poiuytrewq]

I'd say the can't feed is more hay in the field than hard bucket feed- It certainly is In my situation. I feed (bucket) in the stables anyway (which are on skids so "mobile") and within the house boundary not the farm! Really I am not allowed to hay in the field. I very openly do, They have ad lib hay all winter.
As far as i remember I didn't read anything about rugs at all.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I've read/heard the rugs/hard feed/hay thing too which is ridiculous as you can feed cattle and sheep hay and nuts in the field, so if you are treating horses as agricultural then why aren't they allowed to be fed too? I don't think, but may well be wrong, and would be interested to hear otherwise, that anyone has ever been successfully prosecuted for feeding a pony in the field or it wearing a rug?

 

[Abacus]

Use of a rug has nothing to do with it. Grazing horses can wear what they like.

Not true in planning terms. Equestrian use is essentially leisure, and while defining this as opposed to agricultural is a bit vague, there are certain guidelines. Which includes the animals wearing rugs, being exercised in the fields, and the feeding regime. This link is quite useful:

Agricultural use – v- Equestrian use: Is there a difference and why does it matter?

If you want to use land for equestrian purposes, then you need to be aware of the planning legislation on keeping horses on agricultural land.

www.mpdbuiltenv.co.uk

 

[SEL]

So I know one going through at the moment. Its had horses on it forever but with agricultural use but when it was sold to the new owner local residents got upset and she ended up with the planning enforcement officers round. I've just had a nosey on the planning portal (decision still outstanding) and it looks like her solicitor has gone for evidence that horses have been grazed, shod, groomed and ridden on the site for over 10 years so no enforcement can be taken.

Local residents are disputing this.

Mine is agricultural use but my solicitors weren't bothered because the stable block got planning permission 20+ years ago and I don't think planners made a fuss about equestrian vs agricultural then. Ridiculous about supplementary feed making a difference though - one of the local farmers keeps cows out all year round and they get big bales. Doesn't make them recreational animals.

Worth your friend using a specialist I think.