Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

EC7: EQUESTRIAN AND HORSE RACING FACILITIES

1. Planning permission will be granted for new equestrian development or extensions to existing facilities where:

  • The design, scale and siting of the proposed development is consistent with policies for development associated with outdoor sport and recreation in the Green Belt or Countryside Beyond the Green Belt;
  • Sufficient land is available for grazing and exercise
  • The facility is close to an existing bridleway and open space network which is capable of supporting the equestrian use and the riding of horses off-site would not cause inconvenience or danger to horse riders, pedestrians or drivers;
  • The proposed development makes use of existing buildings where practicable;
  • If the development is for private domestic use, any built development is located within, or well-related to, the residential property which the proposed development is intended to serve;
  • Where external lighting is proposed, or likely to be required, this would not result in light pollution adversely impacting on the amenities of neighbouring properties or the surrounding landscape, taking account of existing levels of artificial illumination in the surrounding area; and,
  • The development would not result in the loss or degradation of farmland or other landscape features which contribute positively to the landscape of the Surrey Hills National Landscape or its setting.

2. Within the Racehorse Training Zone, identified on the Policies Map:

  • Proposals which facilitate the long term or future use of the site as a racing stable and/or the racehorse training industry will be supported;
  • Any proposals resulting in the loss of specific facilities which would support the long term or future use of the site as a racing stable will be resisted;
  • The change of use or redevelopment of existing racehorse training or other equestrian sites for alternative uses not in connection with the horseracing/racehorse training industry will not be permitted unless evidence has been provided that:
    1. Marketing as a racehorse training or equestrian site has taken place for a 2-year period at a reasonable market value for the racing sector with a recognised agent specialising in the racing sector property market; and,
    2. Opportunities to reconfigure, reuse or redevelop the site so that it can revert to racehorse training or a use that supports the racehorse training industry in the future have been exhausted.
  • Any proposal, regardless of the type of development, should demonstrate that it will not adversely affect the safety of racehorses travelling between the training grounds and the racing stable yards by virtue of the traffic generation from or the design of the development and provide mitigation where there is an impact.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan