Report - Section 2.5

2.5   Growth in equestrian activity

A recent NFU survey found that equestrian activities accounted for 17% of planning applications submitted, second only to tourism (31%). In some more accessible areas, the horse industry exceeds tourism and accounts for 30% of applications.

All Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in England and Wales were contacted by Writtle College in 1999, as part of a Horse Pasture Management Study⁶. Few LPAs were able to supply a numerical breakdown of horse related planning applications. However, 47% of the respondent LPAs reported that they perceived an overall increase in applications.

In a survey for the Horse Pasture Management Study, LPAs identified increased planning demand for maneges, floodlights and commercial stabling along with subdivision of agricultural land.

Only 45% of LPAs include horse-keeping policies within their Local Plan. Unfortunately, the majority refer to the following negative points:

• Problems with increases in horse-riding on the highway;
• Links between the home site and the bridleway network;
• Concerns relating to the carrying capacity of the bridleway network.

Few Local Plans have a positive policy to increase or enhance the existing bridleway network. Milton Keynes and Crawley are held up by HWBG as examples of good practice in including equestrian needs.

At a local level, between 1999 and 2001, Wealden District Council received 97 planning applications involving equestrian activity. Six were refused, 1 withdrawn and 6 were not yet approved at the time the information was gathered. 83 applications were approved. (Although planning is often perceived to be a constraint on development, these figures do not support the view. However, the figures do not show the number of potential applicants deterred from making an application.)

Under the England Rural Development Programme, DEFRA has received 20 Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) applications for equestrian activity in the South East region. Nine have been approved, 7 rejected, 3 withdrawn and 1 is still undergoing assessment. Funding of about £¼m has been approved.

Table 2.4: Rural Enterprise Scheme applications in the South East

Project description	Number of applications
Accommodation & horses	3
Equestrian enterprise/livery stables	9
Rural rides	2
Agricultural/horse feed project	2
Indoor riding facilities	2
Riding Centre	1
Construction of outdoor arena	1

NB: One application has also been approved for a Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme for a production facility for haylage.

Sussex Enterprise has provided information about existing and planned on-farm activities amongst agricultural enterprises in East Sussex that have received advice from them. Equestrian activity already features quite strongly, but twice as many farms plan a future involvement as are currently involved. (It seems unusual for an enterprise to plan cessation of an existing equestrian activity.)

Table 2.5: Businesses advised by Sussex Enterprise

Number of enterprises:	East Sussex	Leaderplus area	%
Receiving advice	114	24	21
Involved or planning involvement in equestrian activity	371	14	38
Currently involved in equestrian activity	172	6	35

Source: Sussex Enterprise/HWBG
¹. Includes 13 establishments expanding and 24 new enterprises
². In addition, one enterprise is exiting the industry and 1 moving into contracting

Of the 114 enterprises, only one is currently involved in holiday lets but 20 have plans to become involved of which four intend to combine with equestrian activities.

Equestrian activities planned in East Sussex (number of holdings involved in brackets) include:

• Converting buildings for livery/DIY livery;
• Developing buildings for equestrian use;
• Building an equestrian centre⁷;
• Expanding equestrian activity with more stables and a sand school;
• Building a horse recovery unit;
• Expanding livery/DIY livery;
• Introducing livery; and
• Increasing haylage.

22 farms in the Leaderplus area (approximately 7,000 acres) have gone over to Countryside Stewardship some of which involve equestrian activities etc.

Evidence from the SEETB, Rotherfield Community Tourism Project, Sussex Enterprise and Kent Lifescapes suggest that there is a substantial body of interest in agri-tourism.

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⁶ Horse Pasture Management Study, Writtle College, Countryside Agency CAX42, 2001
⁷ HWBG report that a number of traditional riding schools have closed in the Leaderplus area (due to the high business rates). This has created long waiting lists for lessons in some areas, especially for children.