Planning for an arena -drawing up plans

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BBP

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I’m fortunate enough right now to be planning the installation of an arena and am in the process of getting a few quotations from companies for the installation which is also helping to refine exactly what we want. I’ve also run through the local authority planning portal to see what is required. The contractors so far have said they will provide a cross section plan but that is all they provide as far as planning goes so I will need to generate my own plan to show the area on an OS map. I wondered how exact these need to be and how other people have gone about doing their own to make it as accurate a representation as possible?

Also would I need to include the bund/bank that we intend to create on the upwind side using the discarded topsoil/excavated material. As the arena will be cut into a slight hill I would like to optimise what we have by creating steps down into and out of it. Basically create some variety and interest into the horses environment. We also want to create an area of hard standing next to the arena to create firm footing as a section of a track system. So guessing I would need to include this in the planning? We would not be having any lights or anything like that, and have checked from the local footpaths and the current chosen location would not impact on any views from them. The land isn’t overlooked by anyone.

The final point to consider is what surface to use. The first contractor has recommended carpet fibre overs and bit has said it can be dusty and I have a bad COPD pony so need to minimise the airborne dust. Do the planners need to know what the surface will be?

Any hints or tips or things you wished you’d known would be gratefully received!
 
It does depend on your local planners - everyone seems to have different requirements.

For mine in my old house (probably 8 years ago now) I did all the planning myself with a sharp pencil and a ruler and a calculator to work out distances to cms on the map! I wrote a written description and the only follow up question I had was what did I mean by post and rail (for the outside) so I took a photo of field post and rale and sent them that - which did the trick.

Anything that is permenant will need to be included on the planning (bank, hard standing etc.) and yes they will want to know the surface for colour - many seem to dislike rubber now as it's effectively waste material, black so big visual impact and hard to get rid of.

Some councils still do a free / cheap come and have a chat meeting where they will come out on site and talk to you about what they are likely to accept and what they don't like - worth seeing if you can do that so what you apply for has the greatest chance of success.

Speak to your neighbours, whoever they may be and even if you think they can't see it, well in advance so a planning notice going up isn't a shock for them.
 
It depends upon the site and what planning conditions apply to it so each one is likely to be different. Remember that it is likely to be a change of use so you will be charged a fee for that in addition to the permission fee. Don't be surprised if the planners put conditions on - ours is private use only and we had to plant up our bank with native trees

You will need to include the bank and any other area that is being altered. Also add in any new planting of trees to shelter/hide the site including species (a conservationist friend worked out a planting plan for us - % of each different species and the overall mix to reflect the local nature)
 
Excellent advice from Polos Mum above.

Put a search for 'riding arena' on your local planning portal and see what the plans look like for the proposed arenas. This'll give you an idea of what is required in your area. All local councils seem to have their own foibles, mine was quite easy going re the size and surface but was very concerned about the distance from any trees. I had to plot on the plans every hedge and tree in our garden and attached 7 acres, and it could have been a problem if the hedge by our field gateway had had to be cut back to allow access for the tipper lorries. Luckily it didn't.
 
Thanks very much. I had a look and it looks like the LA charge for site visits, so not sure if I will pay to have them out. I’ve done a little work with planning before from a different angle (environmental impact) so hoping I can work it out. We are already doing work now to thicken and fill in the existing hedgerows so I don’t think any further screening planting would be required from a visual perspective.

Speaking to the only neighbour is definitely the priority before plans are fixed and submitted.

I’ll get looking into surfaces. I’m already quite concerned about what to get as I know how many unscrupulous people pass waste off as suitable for equestrian surfaces.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Excellent advice from Polos Mum above.

Put a search for 'riding arena' on your local planning portal and see what the plans look like for the proposed arenas. This'll give you an idea of what is required in your area. All local councils seem to have their own foibles, mine was quite easy going re the size and surface but was very concerned about the distance from any trees. I had to plot on the plans every hedge and tree in our garden and attached 7 acres, and it could have been a problem if the hedge by our field gateway had had to be cut back to allow access for the tipper lorries. Luckily it didn't.
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That’s really useful thanks, I’ll include all that from the start to reduce the chance of it bouncing back.

Drainage is my other concern, it’s clay soil so not sure soakaway will work and nearest ditch is at the furthest point from arena. The natural drainage and lie of the land is a bit odd!
 
Planners need to know (and will control) every aspect of the build including all materials used. It all has to be environmentally friendly. They flatly refused to allow me to use a rubber surface as it leaches chemicals into the water table and cannot be disposed of once it's come to the end of its life (rubber disintegrates and breaks down over time). So you'll need to consider the environmental impact your chosen surface (and all other materials) will have.
 
Muddywellies said:
Planners need to know (and will control) every aspect of the build including all materials used. It all has to be environmentally friendly. They flatly refused to allow me to use a rubber surface as it leaches chemicals into the water table and cannot be disposed of once it's come to the end of its life (rubber disintegrates and breaks down over time). So you'll need to consider the environmental impact your chosen surface (and all other materials) will have.
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That’s okay, I’m an eco warrior anyway!!
 
I submitted an area drawing, a detailed site drawing (plan and side elevation showing the slight slope) - before and after, drainage drawings and specs for the fencing and sand.
 
We used an agent to do our planning application. Whilst we had to pay them we were told it would be more likely to go through first time and it did. We didn't ask for lights as thought if we wanted them in the future it would be easier to add once the menage was in.
 
We also used an agent to do our plans. The agent is more used to what our council was likely to agree, and it saved us having plans bounced back and costing more.
We were not allowed rubber, or lighting.
We did not have any inspections of what we did or used, either. Whether because the council knew our agent, or whether they didn’t have the man power to do so, remains a mystery as I was told they would want to see the footings and drainage was correct according to the plan.
 
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