Policy information sourced from the Aylesbury Local Plan

C2 Equestrian development

General criteria

When considering proposals for horse-related development the council will have particular regard to:

  • The site being suitable for the keeping of horses and capable of supporting the number of animals proposed, having taken account of the arrangements for site management
  • Adequate provision made for the exercising of horses without causing harm to rights of way, other equestrian routes, or other areas such as open land, that will be used for exercise
  • Vehicular access to the site and the road network in the vicinity are capable of accommodating horse-related transport in a safe manner
  • The impact on land of high agricultural or ecological value, or the fragmentation of farm units and the effect on the viability of farm units
  • The environmental effects of the development in terms of noise, smell, light pollution or other disturbances
  • The cumulative impacts of equestrian developments in the locality on the character of the countryside, appearance of the surrounding area, maintenance of the open nature and rural character of the land or on highway safety, and
  • The scale, construction and appearance of the proposed development including the entrance and boundary treatment should be designed to minimise adverse impact on the immediate locality, landscape character and residential amenity.

Private recreation and leisure uses

In the case of a new field shelter or stable used for private recreation or leisure use:

  • It will be for the exclusive use of the horses that are grazed or kept on site
  • It should be of a scale that reflects the number of horses to be kept or grazed on site
  • It should be built of material that is capable of being easily removed if the equestrian use ceases, and
  • It should be sited, where possible, adjacent to existing buildings or natural features such as trees or hedgerows, be of a design and constructed of such materials as are appropriate to the locality and proposed use, and be landscaped or screened so as to minimise any visual intrusion.

Commercial recreation, leisure, training or breeding uses

In the case of commercial recreation, leisure, training or breeding enterprises, developments should re-use an existing building or group of buildings in the countryside. An element of new building or buildings may also be permitted alongside the re-use of an existing buildings (or group of buildings), provided that:

  • it can be demonstrated that no other building or group of buildings is available that is capable to accommodating the proposed equestrian use,
  • the element of new building is the minimum required to accommodate the proposed equestrian use (over and above the requirement to re-use the existing building or group of buildings),
  • any new buildings and ancillary facilities would be erected to integrate with the existing building (or group of buildings), and
  • be supported by a business plan that shows the proposed enterprise has a sound financial basis

Failure of a commercial enterprise

The change of use of an existing equestrian commercial site to another use (other than agriculture or forestry) will not be permitted, unless it can be demonstrated that the existing use is not, or cannot be made, viable.

Ancillary development

In the case of a riding arena or other exercise facility:

  • it can be justified in that location and is of a size and scale appropriate to the existing commercial enterprise, or the number of privately kept horses that will use the facility,
  • any floodlighting is reasonably necessary and at an appropriate level for the use, and
  • it is located close to other buildings on the site and is not visually intrusive in the landscape.

Policy information sourced from the Aylesbury Local Plan