planning permission - house next to stables?

[1alex1moose]

Hi there,

I'm looking at buying some land in sussex - there's 3.5 acres with two barns and some stables... but it's quite a way from where we actually live (around 15 miles). I would like to apply for at least a residential caravan or a small house on the site. I believe it can be a bit easier to get permission if you can justify that your horses need daily care and for security reasons?? Has anyone undertaken anything like this?? is it more hassle than it's worth?? is it going to cost me a fortune?? All advice gratefully received as I'm planning clueless!!

 

[mrdarcy]

I think you'll be very lucky if you get PP for even a residential caravan. As I understand it the justification that animals need someone on site to look after them only applies to agricultural animals not horses. You could put a caravan on site for occasional use including the odd over night stay.

 

[reynold]

no chance whatsoever - walk away from this

 

[Boxers]

Your best bet would be to telephone the local planning office and ask for someone to come over to the land and see what you can do.

 

[pennyh]

check out if its greenbelt , if it is you have next to no chance , if by some stroke of luck it isn't there could be a chance , however , i suspect that the owner/agent would have noticed if its not greenbelt & increased the price massively

 

[Charlie77]

There are all kinds of clauses to this, one of my Bosses tried this he basically had to prove that some one had to stay over on the Land and all sorts, he ended up with five brood mares to try and justify why some one had to be on sight for so many nights over the year ect, Its a total mine field if Sussex is any think like as bad as Kent for PP, I wouldn't even try! Also they are cracking down on Building in back gardens & i think if you have that much land the council will think that if you get planning for one dwelling eventualy the entire plot will get built on, It took us almost 3 years to get planning for 3 wooden stables & sand school on a field that I have kept my horses on for the past 18 years! there were no problems & no objections, just the council to contend with!

 

[Merlotmonster]

I think it would be extremely difficult. If it were possible the land owner would have sold it for millions with planning. I live in Sussex and wanted to put a small cottage on my land for my sister to live in. A big fat NO was the answer!

You can only ask however, so I would definately call the local planning office first. They should be able to give you some idea over the phone. Alternatively, you can go to their website. It usually gives details of green field areas so you know if you would get a chance of building or not. If you are within a village you will be ok, but if you are outside the village boundary, Sussex council wont allow you to build as they want to preserve the rural areas between villages.

 

[BBH]

Ditto Charlie77. A nineteen acre plot was sold next to me as the buyer had told us the planning laws were changing in 6yrs and he wanted to put housing on it. I rang the planning officer who said as far as she knew there was nothing changing but that there is such demand for housing he would probably get PP. I asked if I put in an app for a two bed cott on my 7 acres for personal use and was told it wouldn't stand a chance cos they can fit in 30 houses per acre and they wouldn't want just one house on a 7 acre plot.

 

[OWLIE185]

Get a local planning consultant to help you as they are the best qualified to get you planning permission..

 

[ladyt25]

I have tried this must recently on land we've owned for years and was turned down flat even though we have stables and 2 field shelters on the land and near to us is an old nursery building that got a change of use to offices many years ago. I am still perserving down an 'alternative' building type and will put a bl*ody caravan on there if it comes to it and they'll jsut have to try and move me! Peeves me cos other people don't get planning for stuff and jsut build and battle after!

Also there is a particular housing company who builds hideous houses on plots of land that initially just had one or no houses on and they seem to do it time and again with cheap cr*ppy houses. All basically because IMO of the backhanders the owner of the company gives to the council. Also we have one of the planning people living in the village and she seemed to not have any problem at all geting permission to convert her barn. I will keep fighting until I've exhausted every avenue. My feeling is though it's not what you know it's who you know and how much you're willing to pay to get your way!!! sadly I don't have a lot but I am sick of being broken into and worrying about my horses safety.

 

[Donkeymad]

It is highly unlikely you would be able to get PP for either a house or caravan of any type. You could look into the possibility of converting one of the barns.

 

[Booboos]

Almost impossible. There is only one way I have heard of this being done: first you need to start an equestrian business which has to at least break even or make money (to prove it is long term viable). Then you apply for a residential caravan permit based on the business. Then you live in the caravan for 10 years. Then you can apply for PP for a house to replace the caravan but the business needs to be a going concern for all this time and the house is likely to have an Equestrian Use restriction (i.e. has to be a business not just a private stables, although this the easiest condition to satisfy, e.g. get in a mare and call it a breeding business).

 

[1alex1moose]

Glad I asked before I'd decided on buying it!! Thanks guys I think I'll give this one a miss as I need somewhere to live more than a new home for my neddy!!

 

[Daisychain]

Its makes you sick that its so difficult, i am fed up with pikeys buying all the fields round us, and hey another caravan site!