Equestrian Planning & Development
Specialist Planning Advice for Equestrian Development
Whether you are looking to create a new equestrian facility, expand an existing yard or change agricultural land to equestrian use, AP Planning & Design can guide you through the planning process from initial feasibility through to determination.
We provide specialist planning and design services for private horse owners, professional riders, livery yards, equestrian businesses, landowners and rural estates.
Based in the Peak District and working across Derbyshire and surrounding counties, we understand the particular planning considerations associated with development in rural and sensitive locations.
What Equestrian Projects Can We Help With?
We can provide planning and design support for:
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New stable blocks and replacement stables
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Indoor and outdoor riding arenas / manèges
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Change of use from agricultural land to equestrian use
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Horse walkers
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Lunge pens and training areas
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Hardstanding, yards and access tracks
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New or altered vehicular accesses
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Parking and horsebox turning areas
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Tack rooms, feed stores and ancillary buildings
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Livery yards and commercial equestrian facilities
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Extensions and alterations to existing equestrian buildings
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Retrospective planning applications
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Planning enforcement matters
Agricultural Land to Equestrian Use
One of the most commonly misunderstood areas of equestrian planning is the use of agricultural land for horses.
Keeping horses on land does not automatically mean planning permission is required. However, where the primary use changes from agricultural grazing to the keeping of horses for recreational or equestrian purposes, a material change of use may occur.
The introduction of stables, arenas, fencing, hardstanding, lighting, access arrangements and other equestrian infrastructure can also require planning permission.
AP Planning & Design can assess the existing and proposed use of the land and advise on the appropriate planning route before you commit to unnecessary expenditure.
Planning Permission for Stables & Arenas
New stables and riding arenas can raise a number of planning considerations, particularly within open countryside, Green Belt, National Parks and other sensitive landscapes.
We consider matters including:
Landscape & visual impact
The position, scale, materials and appearance of the development.
Highways & access
Safe access, parking, turning and horsebox movements.
Ecology & Biodiversity Net Gain
Potential ecological impacts and whether surveys or statutory BNG requirements apply.
Heritage
Listed buildings, conservation areas, Scheduled Monuments and other heritage assets.
Drainage
Particularly surface-water management associated with arenas and new areas of hardstanding.
Lighting
Avoiding unacceptable effects on neighbouring properties, wildlife and dark skies.
Residential amenity
Considering neighbouring properties, noise, activity and potential disturbance.
We Can Manage the Entire Application
Depending upon the project, AP Planning & Design can prepare and coordinate:
Planning drawings and site plans • Planning Statements • Design & Access considerations • Heritage assessments • Highway and access statements • parking and turning layouts • Biodiversity Net Gain requirements • ecology coordination • drainage information • landscape considerations • planning policy assessments.
Where specialist surveys are necessary, we can advise exactly what is required and coordinate the information with the planning application.
Rural Planning Experience Matters
Equestrian applications are very different from standard domestic planning applications.
A proposal which initially appears straightforward can involve countryside policies, landscape protection, Green Belt considerations, biodiversity requirements, heritage constraints and highway matters.
Our approach is to identify these issues before the application is submitted and build the strongest possible planning case around the proposal.
Considering an Equestrian Development?
Send us the site postcode/address, a brief description of your proposal and photographs of the site and we can discuss the most appropriate way forward.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
AP Planning & Design
Architectural Design & Planning Consultancy
07930 490737
info@applanningdesign.com
