Author Topic: Equestrian vs agricultural land split and use (Read 3654 times)

ShinyCharizard90 · « **on:** April 02, 2020, 02:16:07 pm »

Hi all!

We're looking for advice on 2 scenarios if someone could please help...

We have 2 acres of pastureland. Too small to farm profitably so has been used for horse grazing for 10+ years. We just have 1 requirement which is to camp on it with the family for a weekend a year.

1) Change of use to equestrian for the whole 2 acres and build a tiny stables for the horses. But are we then allowed to camp on it when the horses are away?

2) Change only 1 acre to equestrian and keep 1 as agricultural. But then can we keep 2 horses on there? (recommended it is 1 horse per acre).

Also, if we did change it all to equestrian use, can we go back to agricultural in the future once the horse business is no longer in operation?

Your views would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Buttermilk · « **Reply #1 on:** April 07, 2020, 03:52:14 pm »

If you are only grazing the land then there is no reason to go for change of use. I seem to think camping for a weekend a year does not need any change of use.

landroverroy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2020, 03:06:12 pm »

Grazing horses as you are is an agricultural operation. There are actually 6 different planning scenarios for horses but few people know the difference and quite honestly, with only 2 acres and no obvious commercial activity, then no one is going to care! In addition you have 28 days of permitted activities/year for which you don't need planning permission. So you, or anyone else you cared to invite, could actually camp for up to 14 weekends/year and it in no way alters the planning status and nor do you have to ask anyone's permission.

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2020, 03:21:52 pm »

I would really avoid contacting the authorities explaining your thoughts and asking them for their advice - you really will be opening a can of worms!

If its been used for grazing horses for 10yrs I'd leave it as it is. You can put a field shelter on skids (mobile) on most fields, if you contact a supplier/builder they should be able to talk you through the legal things.

Camping for a weekend - I would just go ahead and do it, if you ask permission from the council they will make a huge fuss and having been told no you can't is very different from claiming you had no idea you needed permission!

landroverroy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2020, 04:24:03 pm »

Quote from: bj_cardiff on April 08, 2020, 03:21:52 pm

Camping for a weekend - I would just go ahead and do it, if you ask permission from the council they will make a huge fuss and having been told no you can't is very different from claiming you had no idea you needed permission!

AS explained above there is no need to ask the council or anyone else about camping, or anything else you wish to do on your land (eg festival, car boot, local fair etc) so long as it does not use more than 28 days for each activity. Look up "permitted development". It's quite an eye opener and you will be surprised at what you are legally entitled to on your own land without permission.
But I entirely agree about not asking the council about things, as quite often their default answer is "no" even when it should be "yes". Better to stay below the parapet and so long as what you are doing is low key, then they are not likely to know (or care) about it anyway.

ShinyCharizard90 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2020, 10:43:21 am »

Thanks for the advice everyone! Much appreciated.

harmony · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2020, 11:17:32 am »

You aren't going to make any money renting grazing to one horse or two small ponies. The boundaries need to be horse proof, you need to be insured for your liabilities and it will be a lot of work to keep the ground in good condition all year in all weathers. What are the going rates for grazing in your area? Adding field shelters or stables is a costly outlay.

What sort of agriculture are you thinking for the other acre?

ShinyCharizard90 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2020, 08:13:17 pm »

We've decided to go equestrian and get some stables and foster horses to help RSPCA Lockwood.

We need more experience so we're renting out the stables to anyone with horses and we'll be on hand every so often to help out.

We are in Windsor if anyone would like to rent out our stables and paddock.