Please help me decide

[RewWagon]

Should I put up a mobile field shelter in the place of one that blew down?

I can't decide wether it's worth spending the money on it.

A few years ago one of our field shelter, finally blew down in a storm. Replacing the shelter has finally creeped to the top of the to do list, but we're in two minds as to wether we should replace it or not. The field is currently being grazed by someone else's pony for a bit of money. We don't need it for our animals. The only reasons we were going to replace it was:

To maintain a shelter where there always was one? The main reason, but does the Council even care if there was one there a few years ago?

To make it more attractive to the next pony grazer, although it would take a couple of years to break even on what a 12x12' shelter costs.

Could you help me decide?

 

[IrishMilo]

Is there any form of shelter at the moment? I wouldn't be comfortable with a horse living out 24/7 with nowhere to get away from rain. You could stick up a shelter and raise the livery to accommodate the cost.

 

[RewWagon]

Thank you for your reply IrishMilo.
No covered shelter.
So after a little maths:
If the shelter cost £2000 (if we can find one at that price) we would need to double the cost of the grazing to cover the costs within a year.
We wouldn't want to increase the grazing for the current pony owner, so we would wait until they left of their own accord.
Unfortunately the field might then be empty for a year before another grazer comes along (it's happened before).

 

[SEL]

Mine practically blew up in the 2022 storms - covered 5 acres with wood, nails and roofing.

I haven't replaced it. My horses can huddle under the hedge in the rain.

It could work to your advantage with the council if it had been there a while. My shelters in my summer fields have been up for so long they can't argue over planning any more.

In your situation I'd only put one up if you were struggling to rent out the field without one.

 

[Abacus]

I would maintain a building there for future planning and because it increases the value of the land, even if you don’t increase the rent (although you could make a small standard increase each year even to the current tenant).

Sorry if this is hijacking but @SEL - how long do field shelters have to be in place for the council to be unable to ask you to move them? I know mine have been there at least 15 years…

 

[RewWagon]

Thank SEL. Sounds like a lot fo work to clear it up the that storm damage.
There is a lot of natural shelter in this field thank fully.
It's a small paddock, so one should be adequate. 12x12", the one that blew down was probably bigger, but then the expense goes up doesn't it?

 

[meleeka]

I’m pretty sure that as the shelter hasn’t been there since 2022, you’d have to start again with any planning matters anyway, unless it was on skids, as it would count as a new building.

As you don’t need it yourself, I wouldn’t bother personally. You can’t claim any development right for a shelter so it’s pointless in that respect.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I also wouldnt bother if it is not required right now

 

[SEL]

I would maintain a building there for future planning and because it increases the value of the land, even if you don’t increase the rent (although you could make a small standard increase each year even to the current tenant).

Sorry if this is hijacking but @SEL - how long do field shelters have to be in place for the council to be unable to ask you to move them? I know mine have been there at least 15 years…

Solicitors told me 15 years when I bought the place - they were a lot less bothered than I was by the lack of pp for shelters / barns / stables etc ...

 

[tda]

I wouldn't bother.

 

[dorsetladette]

I wouldn't bother either.

 

[RewWagon]

Thank you all for your opinion.
This year will be expensive because a few projects are taking off, that's also why I was hesitating with this expense.

 

[Orangehorse]

My friend has a shelter in her field which is a frame and a strong fabric cover. It seems to stand up to the weather OK. I'm not sure about the price but I'm guessing its a lot less than a timber shelter.

 

[expanding_horizon]

Why not ask next tenant (or current tenant) whether they would like to pay one price with no shelter? Or an increased price to assist with paying back shelter costs. Make it their choice. Or even if they would like to buy a shelter, and be rent free for a period whilst they are paid back for shelter?