Equestrian Planning

Greenhall Riding Centre

2012 Barn conversion approved for residential use following planning negotiations.

2008 Ancillary living accommodation approved, provided by a static caravan adjacent to the main farmhouse to provide for a family member on site. An added benefit is increased on site security for the farm and equestrian businesses.

2004 Riding arena and stables approved for commercial use.

Please see detailed case study below.

 

Objective: The family had been farming the 150 acre sheep farm in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Forest of Bowland near Lancaster for more than three generations.  The youngest generation had finished her training as a professional equestrian instructor and wanted very much to remain on the family farm but to make use of her new qualifications to run a profitable equestrian business alongside the sheep farming that would secure the family business on the farm for future generations.

 

Execution

All successful businesses start with a sound business plan. David Wrigleyworked with the family to help them pull together their business plan, advising them on strategies that would see them maximise the grants and potential funding available to them.  Expanding the remit of the business plan from livery and tuition to include pony trekking for example meant not only that the business would have a viable year round income, but would also qualify it to apply for a tourism grant (available at the time) which gave them a significant contribution to the capital investment needed for the construction of stables, concrete yard, ménage and fencing etc.

 

Achieving planning for the stables and the ménage that was likely to have a visual impact on an area of outstanding beauty and in an area which fell across three separate boroughs, presented its challenges.  David’s relationship with the local government officials in the borough and the County Council meant that the application was only made once negotiations with the planners, highways officers and all other interested parties were complete, so that the application process itself was as smooth as possible.  Full planning was successfully granted in 2008.

 

David Wrigley said: “The whole process took around four months.  It’s not a quick process; there can be a mixture of personalities involved all with different interests, but by ensuring all parties are consulted and communicated with effectively and that all potential objections are pre-empted, it means that the eventual application process is much smoother and more likely to succeed, saving time and money for clients in the long run.”

 

Now that the equestrian business has been successfully established, and as time has passed it has become clear that the elderly grandparent, the current owner of the farm, needs full time care and the equestrian business increasingly needs Jean and her family to be on site.  With the current farmhouse lived in by her grandparent, the family needs additional accommodation.  Under planning regulations the sheep farm and equestrian business won’t sustain planning for an additional worker’s dwelling so application was made on the basis of social need to allow for a full time carer (family member) to live on site and provide care in the community.

 

With the possibility of a new build dwelling ruled out, David has liaised with the planners and successfully negotiated permission for three years for temporary accommodation.

 

The longer term potential to convert a barn adjoining the listed farmhouse into a family accommodation has now been approved. This followed pre-application negotiations David held with Lancaster City Council. The team was complimented by a local architect contracted to prepare the detailed plans required for the listed building application.

 

Jean Easterby, the client and owner of Greenhall Riding Centre, said: “We knew getting planning here was going to be a challenge. David has always acted with professionalism worked in our best interests.  Getting us the planning we needed to diversify has made it possible for three generations of our family to stay together and continue farming here now and into the future.”

 

 

 

 

 

We live in The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so getting planning was going to be a real challenge. We really needed this planning so our daughter could run her own business from the family farm. David got us both permissions passed and continues to act with professionalism in our best interests.
Jean Easterby, Greenhall Riding Centre