The need for planning permission for stables will depend on whether the stables fit within the permitted development criteria of your local area. You may need to contact your local planning authority (LPA).
The world of planning permission can be a tricky one to get your head around! Whether you’re looking at Internal Stables, Wooden External Stables, American Barns or Field Shelters, we’re offering some advice on how to approach your stabling project…
There are many factors that determine whether you need planning permission for stables or not. The purpose of planning permission is to ensure that buildings are safe and do not negatively affect the surrounding area. It will take into consideration the appearance of your stabling to ensure it is in keeping with the landscape and evaluate the impact it with have on local facilities, such as roads. Planning permission isn’t so much about the size of the project but its location and intended use.
“Whether or not planning permission is necessary will depend on whether the stables fit within the permitted development criteria of your local area” Imogen Johnson, Your Horse (2017). Get in touch with your Local Planning Authority.
Do I Need Planning Permission For Stables?
When considering whether to utilise garden space for stabling, be sure to check the deeds of your house for potential restrictions, such as a covenant that confirms you cannot keep hooved animals in your garden. Here are points to consider…
However, it is always best to get in touch with your LPA to confirm this. You may have to inform them that the stable construction will blend in with the area, your land won’t depreciate with horses on it and that the muck heap will not be an environmental risk. Furthermore, you will have to assure neighbours that noise and smell will not be a problem and have a plan for your manure disposal.
Diversification in farming has seen agricultural building owners installing Internal Stables to provide an additional form of income. The fact that you aren’t actually building a new infrastructure often tricks people into thinking planning permission may not be necessary. One thing you must be aware of is the need to declare a change in use. Unfortunately, stabling does not easily fall into the category of permitted development rights, that agricultural buildings generally do.
“A change of use of land or buildings requires planning permission if it constitutes a material change of use. There is no statutory definition of ‘material change of use’; however, it is linked to the significance of a change and the resulting impact on the use of land and buildings. Whether a material change of use has taken place is a matter of fact and degree and this will be determined on the individual merits of a case. If planning permission is required for change of use, there may be permitted development rights which allow change of use without having to make a planning application.” GOV.UK, 2019.
American barns are usually considered for the larger developments such as livery yards, riding schools etc and they are designed to keep everything under one roof, from loose boxes, tack rooms, feed stores, even offices, reception areas and toilet blocks. Barns that are not for agricultural purposes will always require planning permission.
Here are 5 important things to consider when applying for planning permission…
Find Out More on the GOV.UK website. Remember planning permissions vary between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We always offer advice and guidance with Stable or American Barn applications when you choose Cheval Liberte, take a look now!