Manège without planning

[Coblette]

A friend (non horsey) is concerned about a neighbour building a manège in a field next to his property. The field is on green belt and has no planning for any manège/buildings/stables. He doesn’t know what surface they are putting down, currently only fencing up but where does he stand? Can they put a surface straight onto grass without permission?

 

[Barton Bounty]

As far as I am aware any non movable structure requires planning permission ?

 

[ycbm]

When i did mine i was told that you require planning consent unless you are going to use the area for agricultural use. It would be very unusual to fence before installing a surface, is the friend sure it's for an arena?
.

 

[Coblette]

They’ve said it is going to be a manège, but not a proper one. So I’m thinking they are just going to dump a load of surface on the grass

 

[Nicnac]

If they dump surface onto grass it won't last the winter. Fencing before surface is arse about face. Defo need planning for a manege as permanent structure. She can speak to her local planning department...

 

[dixie]

Maybe it’s just a grass arena. Or they might dump a load of sand on to help it drain a bit better.
the fencing going up first suggests it’s not going to be very well done if there is a surface going down.

 

[FestiveG]

A friend (non horsey) is concerned about a neighbour building a manège in a field next to his property. The field is on green belt and has no planning for any manège/buildings/stables. He doesn’t know what surface they are putting down, currently only fencing up but where does he stand? Can they put a surface straight onto grass without permission?

What are his concerns? Is it that he has genuine reasons to object, or is it the principle? If it's a grass arena, then the landowner has simply fenced off a portion of their land, which they are quite at liberty to do.

 

[Coblette]

What are his concerns? Is it that he has genuine reasons to object, or is it the principle? If it's a grass arena, then the landowner has simply fenced off a portion of their land, which they are quite at liberty to do.

I think mainly the fact that it is right next to his property with no planning consent. If it’s only going to be a grass arena then that’s fine

 

[KittenInTheTree]

A neighbour fencing off a bit of their land to ride on sounds like a rather petty thing to be concerned about to me, especially given the state of the roads these days.

 

[PeterNatt]

This may be the thin edge of the wedge and the Planning Department should be consulted about this and also determine if the property has had change of use from agricultual to equestrian.

 

[Soap On A Rope]

Is this thread for you Coblette ?.....
Just seeing what you can get away with ?

 

[FestiveG]

This may be the thin edge of the wedge and the Planning Department should be consulted about this and also determine if the property has had change of use from agricultual to equestrian.

Unless they also have other livestock, which they run alongside the horses. As I said above, anyone can enclose a piece of their land, which is all the neighbour has done at this point!

 

[blitznbobs]

It is actually very grey. You can drain agricultural land. You can fence agricultural land. You can add stuff to agricultural land … you can terrace agricultural land … it all depends what you call it.

 

[Melody Grey]

If it’s just a fenced off area with (potentially) sand thrown over the top, is there not an argument for it being a temporary structure? Whether it would work as a school and for how long is a totally different question.

 

[Coblette]

Is this thread for you Coblette ?.....
Just seeing what you can get away with ?

No unfortunately not, I don’t have space for one otherwise I would have applied for planning permission!

 

[Coblette]

Unless they also have other livestock, which they run alongside the horses. As I said above, anyone can enclose a piece of their land, which is all the neighbour has done at this point!

Yes it is all they have done so far he just wants to know what is and isn’t allowed

 

[Coblette]

If it’s just a fenced off area with (potentially) sand thrown over the top, is there not an argument for it being a temporary structure? Whether it would work as a school and for how long is a totally different question.

This is what I think, it may be hard to say it’s a permanent structure but agree it may not be very useable!

 

[AmyMay]

I think mainly the fact that it is right next to his property with no planning consent. If it’s only going to be a grass arena then that’s fine

Without wishing to be pedantic, why would a ménage actually cause an issue for your friend?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Tbh its a shame shes not horsey or she could have possibly used it ?

 

[Coblette]

Without wishing to be pedantic, why would a ménage actually cause an issue for your friend?

He’s not horsey and it’s always just been an empty field used for crops/hay

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Could it be a potential turnout area when the fields are too wet?

 

[AmyMay]

He’s not horsey and it’s always just been an empty field used for crops/hay

Yes, but what issues would it cause him? Would he feel the same if stock was turned out in it?

 

[millikins]

I think your friend should speak to the planning department at the council, or perhaps his neighbour first? Somebody I know is currently appealing an enforcement notice against change of use from agricultural/grazing to equestrian in a National Park. The neighbours in this case have raised the objections, in large part because equestrian use will increase the value of the land and if allowed everyone will be doing it.

 

[Coblette]

Duplicate posting

 

[Coblette]

Yes, but what issues would it cause him? Would he feel the same if stock was turned out in it?

No I think it’s more the noise from lessons and also it’s very visible from the house

 

[cauda equina]

How does he know it's going to be an arena if it's currently just fencing?

 

[dorsetladette]

No I think it’s more the noise from lessons and also it’s very visible from the house

I think your friend needs to talk to the neighbours a bit more. Sounds like they are assuming becuase it is a 'school' it is going to be used as a riding school. If it was just used for an hour 5 times a week it would hardly impact him at all.

I have a fenced off area which we use for riding, lunging, long reining and will use for backing in the new year. It's an enclosed 20m X 40m area (which we call our arena (in a very ironic tone)). It has a small shelter in one corner. We have very sandy soil so it never gets very muddy and is only slippy for a day or so. It's a really useful area for feeding/separating ponies and for storing large items like wrapped hay and the lorry. It is right by the houses we neighbour, but only because it is the flattest part of the field. We use this some evenings and weekends, but its not in constant use and we are respectful of our neighbours.

 

[Polos Mum]

I think a friendly chat would definitely be worth it. If your friend goes in heavy handed straight to planning and the neighbour gets in trouble - the neighbour might decide that right next to your friends house is the best place for the massive muck heap or new slurry store or other much worse things than a school.

We need a bit more tolerance and only worrying about important things in the world right now.

 

[bubsqueaks]

If the land is still registered as Agricultural Land then youre not even allowed to school or jump horses on it, you have to change to Equestrian Use. We have had numerous issues with our planning & in our local area, any change to the surface of agricultural land for any purpose other than agriculture tends to require planning. We have a similar situation with neighbours where they have built 2 non agricultural sheds/summer house on agricultural land but my morals wont allow me to report them to the council - planning causes so many disputes between neighbours.

 

[FestiveG]

Anyone who puts in a complaint, based on something as ridiculous as "they've put a fence up and I believe that they are going to put a school in", had better be sure that they are absolutely squeaky clean, with everything they do on their own property. Leaving others to get on with their own lives, unless it impinges on you, it's often the best policy.