Introduction
7.114 High standards of design, construction and maintenance of buildings, and care of land are necessary to ensure that equestrian activities (sometimes referred to as "horsiculture") do not have an adverse impact on the countryside, and to ensure that the horses involved are well housed and cared for. The keeping of horses and the erection of stables can, in some cases, significantly change the character of rural areas, and detract from the landscape. The treatment of boundaries and screen planting are therefore important planning considerations. Intensive use of land and bridleways can also damage sensitive sites. Annex F of PPG7 sets out the national planning policy guidance context for equestrian development.
7.115 Planning permission is not needed for the use of land for agricultural purposes. However, the definition of agriculture in Section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 included "the breeding and keeping of livestock" and "the use of land as grazing land". The term "livestock" relates only to animals bred or kept for agricultural purposes. Land can only be said to be used for grazing horses if they are turned onto it primarily for feeding them from it, but not for any other purpose such as exercise or recreation. Unless horses are kept as agricultural livestock, or are grazed on land, planning permission is required for the use of land for equestrian activities, or the keeping of horses.
7.116 Similarly, buildings used for the housing of horses used in farming are regarded as agricultural permitted development. Stables or loose boxes within the curtilage of a dwelling (i.e. in a large garden, but not a separate paddock) for horses kept as pet animals enjoy permitted development rights, as they are for the domestic needs or personal enjoyment of the dwelling house. Commercial equestrian uses generally have a greater and more extensive impact on the Green Belt than private equestrian activities.
Development for Commercial Equestrian Activities
|
Policy EQ.1 The development of commercial equestrian uses in rural areas, such as riding schools and arenas, stud farms, racing or livery stables will be carefully controlled. Proposals for such uses will be rigorously examined to assess their impact, individually and cumulatively, on the purposes and visual amenity of the Green Belt, and on the local highway network, including bridleways. Within the Green Belt, applications will be assessed against the criteria listed in Policy GB.2, and where there is conflict with any of these criteria, proposals will not be permitted. |
Leisure Stables
7.117 Buildings for the housing of horses not within domestic curtilages require planning permission. The British Horse Society's standard size for a loose box is 3.5 metres x 3.5 metres, and it is considered reasonable to limit private individual keepers of horses to a maximum of two loose boxes, and a store room within one structure which would accommodate two horses and their provisions. Consequently, the District Council considers that the maximum size for stables for leisure uses should be 3.5 metres x 3.5 metres x 11 metres (equivalent to approximately 12ft x 12ft x 36ft).
Stables and Field Shelters for Leisure Activities
|
Policy EQ.2 Development involving horses kept for leisure purposes should have a minimal adverse impact on the countryside. Proposals for stables and field shelters will only be permitted where they are: i) sited within or immediately adjoining an existing farm buildings complex, or failing that, alongside a hedgerow or other landscape feature which affords substantial screening; and ii) provided with a safe highway access, the construction of which is environmentally acceptable; and iii) constructed using good quality appropriate materials such as timber cladding, and designed clearly for their intended purpose. Where proposals involve the erection of stables on a temporary basis, any planning permission granted will be temporary, with an appropriate condition requiring the removal of those buildings when the permission expires. |
7.118 In all cases, appropriate landscaping proposals must form an integral part of any planning application. The creation of new hedgerows should be an important consideration, to soften and in time replace the timber fencing often used to separate paddocks. Careful consideration will be given to the impact of proposals on the landscape character of the surrounding area, and in particular the cumulative impact of stables and field divisions. Relevant conditions may be imposed on planning permissions where necessary.
Landscape
Impact of Development Involving Horses
|
Policy EQ.3 Proposals for development involving horses, which individually or cumulatively adversely affect the quality and character of the landscape, will not be permitted. |