Is planning permission for a manege difficult to get?

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soph15

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I’m going through the process of getting a manège built and about to apply for planning. However the area I live in is super strict on what they pass for planning and to make matters worse my field is close to a river, although the paddock we’re looking at having the manège put in is dry and has never flooded in the 25 years we’ve lived here.

Is planning for a manège a difficult process, are they strict etc?

Has anyone got any tips in helping it get passed? (Eg, types of environmental friendly surface, etc) Or have any similar arenas near a river?

I’ve been saving up for years and it’s my dream to have one so I’ll be absolutely gutted if it gets rejected so if anyone has any advice or stories about similar it would be really appreciated ?
 
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If you are having a professional install the ménage ask if they will take on the planning as part of the package or use a planning consultant with equestrian property experience.
 
I’m absolutely not an expert but I think you might have to be careful with environmental concerns, I.e. which surface you opt for close to a river incase there’s risk of it washing into it?
 
I had one passed without any issues, apart from no lighting allowed. my surface was from Equestrian direct and is their Flexi ride surface. The council will not allow rubber to be used.
I have a ditch to the front of my property,and the arena water drains into that, which didn’t cause any issues with the planning at the time.
 
Melody Grey said:
I’m absolutely not an expert but I think you might have to be careful with environmental concerns, I.e. which surface you opt for close to a river incase there’s risk of it washing into it?
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This.
CMcC said:
If you are having a professional install the ménage ask if they will take on the planning as part of the package or use a planning consultant with equestrian property experience.
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I definitely recommend getting an experienced planning consultant in for a potentially tricky application.

Charles Britton built our arena and dealt with the planning as part of the package. CB told me (though that was 10 years ago) that they'd never had an application turned down, though a couple went through to appeal. They understand how best to present an application. You may be restricted quite heavily as to materials used, the positioning, the surface etc.
 
When i nstalled one, one of the conditions was no rubber, due to the damage it causes to the environment. I've mentioned that a few times in this forum and been told to go away and I'm talking nonsense (??). That was pretty much the only condition (we weren't installing lights) and it was easy to get planning approval. I have been reliable advised to get planning approval and get the arena built first, and then apply separately for lights. They don't like lights and it's likely to get the whole application turned down. So best to do it separately, later on.
 
I did my application myself - drew pictures with pencil. It was larger than standard and fibre surface.
The only thing they asked me was what post and rail looked like - so I send in a photo !!

The local council where we lived was very relaxed and the planning for the stable was breeze too.

I would recommend a pre planning consultation so you know what you're dealing with - where we live now they have drop in sessions so you don't even need to make and appointment.
 
Thank you everyone for your help, you’ve filled me with some hope that it might get passed! I didn’t actually know you could get planning consultants that specialised in equestrian properties so I will definitely be investing in that and the overall census seems to be that rubber isn’t favoured for environmental reasons and due to my location I can imagine that would be an issue!

Thank you for all your help and if anyone has any other success stories I’d love to hear them and I’ll let everyone know how the planning goes!??
 
I used a planning consultant. My original application (home made!) was rejected. The only issue I had was no permanent freestanding lights so I use lights on existing buildings for schooling in the dark and then put higher fence posts at A, C, E and B on which I hang Screwfix rechargeable floodlights under which I can jump.

Also had a neighbour who contested it as he thought I was opening a riding school - council called it a schooling arena - and neighbour was concerned about the drains of all bizarre things due to number of people who would be using my toilet!
 
Having a planning consultant, with a proven record and a good relationship with your council, to prepare and submit your application can be the difference between success and failure. Professional fees add to your build cost but can save such a lot of time and stress.
 
I think that some planning boards allow for a pre-planning consultation, sometimes even free, where you can discuss what you want to apply for before submission.
 
We paid a consultant to do it for us and it went through no problem. We didn't ask for lights as that seems to be something that can make the whole thing get rejected and we figured once the manege was in we could add those if required later on.
 
JoannaC said:
We didn't ask for lights as that seems to be something that can make the whole thing get rejected and we figured once the manege was in we could add those if required later on.
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Wise decision. We didn't ask for or mention lights either, but when the planning approval came through it still stipulated no lights.
 
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