[Wigan Pixie]

Hello everyone, I'm a single, home educating, parent, who is self employed (yarn crafts) and looking for a change of life style. I'm sick of the celebrity worshipping, wasteful, throw away society. So a few friends and I are in the early stages of getting a communal smallholding together, where we will all live and work together, as self sufficiently as possible.

My question is, if we buy a property that has been used for equestrian purposes, do we have to inform anyone if we wanted to start growing crops and keeping chickens and goats? I've done an internet search but I'm using my mobile phone until my laptop is fixed and it's impossible to use for searching. Can anyone give me any advice or point me in the right direction.

[tizaala]

Welcome to the loony bin, Have you seen the add for a smallholding in Shropshire in the marketplace forum ? it is already a commune by the look of the add. Sound just up your street.

[Wigan Pixie]

Unfortunately it's too small for our needs and we wanted to stay around Lancashire/Yorkshire, due to the kids needing to see their respective dads. Shame really, as it looks ideal for one of our families.

[Hermit]

Hi, best to ask your planning dep. Equestrian is domestic not agricultural land, also it may be business registerd for whatever. Best just ask your local authority. There are so many battles ongoing about fencing land up into units, putting lots of buildings up , especially lots of different ones. Some community small holding sites look like bad gypsy camps crossed with scrap yards. Best to ask and learn what you can do and how they accept things doing. Neighbours may have liked the ponies but may not be happy with pigs and cocks crowing etc.  Dont mean to be a spoil sport but best to do things right or else you will have battles you cant win as so many have had before you.
 The very best of luck with your venture, lots of advice on here

[Wigan Pixie]

Some community small holding sites look like bad gypsy camps crossed with scrap yards. Best to ask and learn what you can do and how they accept things doing. Neighbours may have liked the ponies but may not be happy with pigs and cocks crowing etc.

I know what you mean about the state of some sites, we've looked around a few and, to be honest, I couldn't live like that. We intend to live in a house-share on site and, hopefully, convert an outbuilding or two for other members and, as for neighbours, we're hoping to be far enough away that we won't disturb anyone. We're not party animals but I do have a couple of rather noisy lathes, which I do use for hours at a time, sometimes outdoors if the weather permits and I wouldn't want to annoy anyone.

[Mad Goatwoman of Madeley]

   Hi and welcome from cloudy shropshire.  It will be interesting to hear the outcome of this.

[Simple Simon]

Round here most land uses for horses is agricultural not equestrian.  If you set up permanent jumps or a manège then you have an equestrian use, but allowing horses to eat grass remains agricultural.  As an aside training draught horses would also be agriculture.

Many local authorities are getting snottier about horsey uses but it is worth checking the actual status.

[Bert]

Welcome from the Isle of Mull

[Mammyshaz]

Welcome  from Durham
This sounds like a good venture, good luck with it