Land Query

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Got 3 Questions!
How do i find out if a field is classified as agricultural or not?
What if its classified as amenity land- can i graze / ride horses on it?
What if its unclassified for use- can i do anything with it?(obviously i know i need planning for any type of structure)
I have tried the planners but they are not very quick at returning phone calls so thought it was worth a try here whilst waiting

Only asking as there is a query re riding in the field at our yard!

 

[amandathepanda]

You would have to talk to your local planning office & they usually are slow coming back with answers I'm afraid. If it isn't classifed for leisure purposes you have to apply for a change of use to be able to ride on it - this has been well documented in H&H recently regarding people with show jumps on their field.

 

[OWLIE185]

You can ride on any agricultural land apart from the outer margins if the landowner/tenant is in receipt of higher status grants for single area payments in which case he can not ask for money to ride on those areas and in some cases may not be able to ride on that part of the field himself.

As far as land for equestrian use this can depend on what permission was granted and any restrictions put on it. i.e no jumps etc.

The only way to tell is to see all the planning permissions issued by the planners I am afraid.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Ok, have spoken briefly to someone at the planners who says the field is registered at the Land Registry but there is no classification for use

Do i ring again and hope someone else answers the phone? Is there any other way to find out ? Am i better off going to the planning dept and asking for any previous planning attempts?

 

[kerilli]

where has the query come from? tbh, i find the planners to be a bit like a wasp's nest... approach with care, leave well alone if pos...
if they ask if horses are being hayed or fed in the field, say No. apparently that makes a difference - if horses are surviving on the grass, it can stay as agricultural, but if you feed or hay them, then you need planning permission for a change of use to horsiculture. mental - it's a welfare issue really, "so, i can keep my horse in there as long as i don't feed it?" (this came from a planner, btw.)
you can't put jumps in an agricultural field though... unless you're a farmer, in which case i think very different rules apply!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

PMSL K! Totally agree about wasps nest!
Im trying to find out some info as one of the neighbours is a bit tricky

and i wanted to be armed with answers in case i get "dobbed" into the planners

hence trying not to get too specific about the address to them. I thought if i could find out how the land is classified then i would know how much i could/should be ok to do with the horses.

PS hows your mares back?