Does anyone own their own land, advice needed

[claireross]

I am thinking of trying to buy a plot of land, as I would really like my horse out 24/7. Have any of you done this????? Is it difficult to getting planning for field shelters, stables etc. What can you put down as a school without planning required. How many acres do you have per horse and how much work do you do to the fields to keep them in good condition.

 

[Sooty]

As I understand it, a lot of what you can do with the land depends on its designated use. If it is agricultural, and you want to keep horses on it, you will need to apply for change of use. We have a small paddock here and because we would need planning application for a field shelter, we bought a 'mobile' one on skids, which can (theoretically) be towed away. You will have to provide water and (presumably) electricity, and a muck heap area. Proximity to a water course may come into it regarding the muck heap. Best thing to do is ring or email your local council and ask them. I think the recommended amount of land is 1 acre per horse, but we have slightly less than that but manage ok as we divide up the field and use half at a time, feeding supplementary hay in the winter when the grass runs out.

 

[pottamus]

I rent rather than own...but land can be megga expensive, especially if it has road access or water. It can be difficult to get planning, especially if the land had agricultural use currently...you would need to employ a decent agent to work on your behalf and draw up proper plans to put forward to the council. If it is done well with all environmental and social aspects considered (muck removal, smell, overlooking from neighbours, light distubances etc) you have a good chance. Also, are there other stables in the area...because that will help your case more. You need to talk to your council and involved them...invite them to the site and ask for their advice on siting the stables etc...that helps too.
I think you need planning for any type of school...because you are using the land for equestrian leisure purposes and therefore need the appropriate change of use unless it is already done.
I have 2 and a half acres for one horse, which is a bit much as he is on restricted grazing during the summer...but I would say 2 acres per horse realistically.
I have my fields harrowed, rolled and sprayed every year and in addition, have had to have ditches dug for drainage and have the hedges cut every year too. I pay in the reagion of £200 for harrowing, rolling, hedges, spraying every year to keep them looking good and the grazing in good order.
I think the hardest part is getting the land in the first place and then being able to afford to buy it!

 

[miller]

We bought a bungalow last year with a 4 acre field (ploughed just had crop off at time), prior to purchase we applied for planning permission for 4 wooden stables (although these fall within our garden so PP not strictly required - we just felt it was safer the CC/neighbours knew what was going on), fencing around the field and a hedge on roadside, change of use from agricultural to equestrian and a 60x20 arena.

council came back wanting more information on fencing and type and insisted the hedge was not of conifer (wasn't going to be) but a normal uk growing plant, they insisted we shrink arena to 50m length as was too close to roadside one end and drainage dyke the other (they asked for 40m but we negotioated) and they wanted to know what colour the stables would be! (any colour they wanted if it meant we got the PP)

Only other issue we had was local internal drainage board wouldn't allow us to permanent fence on the dyke side as they need access to clean dyke which we agreed to as we use electric tape that side.

Only thing I will say is either to use a planning consultant or see the local planning people first as they are very picky about the details on the form and ours got returned 4 times (came back on a friday, we updated over the weekend and dropped it back in then appeared again the following friday!) Why they can't ask all the questions at once is beyond me!

Oh, other thing they wanted to know was disposal of manure and they wanted a landscaped bank at short end of school to detract view from the road.

We then crossed our fingers and hoped PP result came back before vendors wanted us to sign for new house (we needed a get out clause!) - luckily it did, everything now built and we now have PP in for arena lights - decision due on 12th Jan - please cross your fingers for us! Again this one came back to us as they wanted a visual description of the lighting support - we had said "mounted on ex BT Telegraph Poles!" try describing a telegraph pole!

 

[miller]

Adding to say - we have approx 3.5 acres with 2 x 16.2hh's on it - fenced into 3 paddocks. We are on fenland soil which drains well and we have a bit of mud in the gateway area of the paddock they are in now.

We poo pick daily in summer and at weekend in winter (dark in mornings and after work), fence at moment being moved out monthly to allow a bit more grass and takes around an hour to do. Will be rolled (field they are in now) and fertilised in spring and bare areas reseeded. Water is topped up daily and fence checked daily - tbh not really any more work than diy yard with poo picking. We paid £10 per acre for seeding/rolling/harrowing etc and farmers locally are willing to do it as long as not in their busiest times.

 

[vivhewe]

I have 15 acres for two ponies, but they are shared with cows/sheep and the welshie is usually strip grazed anyway due to laminitis. In his paddock it is poo-picked daily but because we move it it is easier to top buckets up than put automatic troughs in, although in one field there is natural running water and a trough, with cement around the running water (it is underground apart from about 3 metres of it at the side of the field) and fenced on the other three sides so that it doesn't get paddled.

The first field is on a hill with bedrock underneath so it is often wet (and impossible to dig posts in to!) so they go into the other one if they are going to paddle. I haven't got any stables at present or an arena but plenty of natural shelter i.e. good thick hawthorn hedges

Good luck!

 

[Boolagh]

An acre of land up the road from us (Hertfordshire) went for £25,000 just before Christmas. No water or electricity and extremely unlikely to get planning permission for anything.
So good luck!!