FEELING FENCED IN?

Jemma Stennett, Associate Director of Acorus Rural Property Services Ltd, explains that keeping horses is becoming increasingly popular and a long term commitment. It is vital therefore, that you get both their housing and grazing established effectively.

- know your options when planning new fencing.

'New fencing to keep horses on your land is an expensive outlay but can still be cheaper than livery charges'

Buying blocks of arable land to convert to grazing is one way of enabling more horses to be kept at home and has become increasingly popular. New fencing to keep horses on your land is, however, an expensive outlay and before you invest in the capital cost of buying seeding and fencing, you should be aware of a number of issues. Firstly, having horses on your land is not considered to be agricultural use (unless they are reared for working the land or for meat) and as such, planning permission may be required.

- Grazing does not need planning permission but the keeping of horses on land does. This can be a grey area with different local authorities taking different views. The main principal is that the grazing should be managed and provide the principal part of the horses diet.

- Schooling facilities need planning permission even if only temporarily placed on the land unless this is for less than 28 days per annum.

- Outside storage of jumps and other facilities also needs planning permission.

- New accesses or roadways will definitely require planning permission.

Government policy is fairly favourable to small scale equine development so even if the local authority do not like your proposal, consider appealing to the planning inspectorate. If planned, buying and fencing in more land can be extremely rewarding, not to mention preferable to paying livery charges.

Jemma Stennett specialises in rural planning and diversification including new agricultural and equestrian dwellings, new agricultural and equestrian buildings, change of use, barn conversions, tourism and leisure and planning appeals. Jemma can be contacted on 01284 753271 or alternatively, contact your nearest Acorus office for advice, numbers below.

South East Regional OfficeBury St Edmunds01284 753271
South West Regional OfficeExeter01626 892638
Scotland and Northern OfficeLeeds01977 682313
Midlands and Wales OfficeWolverhampton01902 693213

If you would like further advice on the planning and design issues then visit our website www.acorus.co.uk