Report - Section 7.3

7.3   Equestrian activity and the planning system

Planning permission is not needed for the use of land for the purpose of agriculture. However, horses are not generally treated as agricultural animals in the UK (as they are in France).

The definition of agriculture in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 includes the breeding and keeping of livestock and the use of land as grazing land. Land can be said to be used for grazing if horses are turned onto it with a view to feeding them from it, but not if they are kept on it for some other purpose (such as exercise or recreation), when grazing is incidental. Planning permission is therefore normally required for the use of land for keeping horses and for equestrian activities, unless they are kept as livestock or the land is used for grazing.

For equestrian developments, whether it be new buildings³⁰ or change of use of the land, normal planning permission rules are applied unlike other agricultural premises.

30 Indoor facilities are needed in order to develop all year, full-time businesses.

There is a clear need to emphasise and prove how development of the equestrian industry will help rural regeneration and maintain good land management in the long term whilst respecting traditional landscape patterns eg how:

• it will help retain expertise in land and grass management;
• it makes good use of existing farm buildings and machinery; and
• it helps reduce land fragmentation, allowing farms to remain as viable units.

Supplementary Planning Guidance is rarely used but could include the above issues and give clear advice on:

• Acceptable designs for buildings;
• Materials which should be used in construction;
• Maneges and all weather riding surfaces and their lighting needs;
• Fencing, hedge planting and maintenance;
• Landscaping sites, and the native trees and shrubs which are most suitable;
• Access requirements from the highway;
• Exercising rights or expectations;
• Grazing area required; and
• Manure storage and disposal.

There is a need for the local equestrian industry to lobby for more positive planning policies in local plans or supplementary planning guidance.

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³⁰ Indoor facilities are needed in order to develop all year, full-time businesses.