GeeDub

We had a Planning Consultant submit a Pre-Application for us during Covid. We had an online Zoom meeting with the Planning Officer. He was employed by our local council, but actually lived over 200 miles away! He didn't know the area but researched everything online, he probably did more background work than if he was local. He was really good and very helpful. He basically gave us the blueprint for our application! Everything he said in his response got approved. In respect of our planning Consultant, that was a waste of money at over £4k. Their drawings were a photograph of the existing buildings edited in paint and what I can only describe as a cartoon of a house superimposed over the top. At the time I engaged them I was completely ignorant of Planning and how it works. Inspired by their pathetic efforts, and quote of over £10k for a full submission, I believed could do a better job myself. So that's what I did and received full Consent yesterday for a house, annex, stables / barn, 3 Bay cart lodge, large pond.

Yep, same as my situation. I've received Permission to knock down the stables and outbuildings adjacent to my house, all on the same piece of land. Consent received to build a large 1.5 storey house, separate Annexe, stable block/hay barn, 3 car cart lodge. I suppose it also depends on available funds.

I'm gutted for you. I have been in touch with Flight Timber about my impending project, luckily that's as far as I got with them. I have a two really large clients that have gone bust just this week - I think the knock on effects of Covid and the current uncertainty / unwillingness of the public to make big purchase decisions, will start to make this happen more often. This has made me think very hard about how / who I pay in future.

Is this a commercial equestrian Centre? You don't state if you have permission to build or not, so this would be the first step I think, then see what the permission states or have a Pre-App with the LPA and ask what they require by way of any tie? I would look very carefully at the wording of the Equestrian Tie if this is what the LPA want, and make it as "loose / vague" as possible, especially not having it tied to employment or a commercial activity. I bought my property in 2006 and the equestrian tie has a 2001 amendment to the original 1990 approval (further below) 2001 Amendment "The occupation of the living accommodation coloured red on the application plans shall not be occupied other than by a person or persons associated to the horse activities on this site as edged blue on the approved plans and know as (Property Name) and shall not be used separately from the premises to which it relates without the prior written approval of the local planning authority. REASON The site lies in an area where new dwellings are not normally permitted" This says nothing about employment and we were only asked by our solicitor whether we were buying a business, which we were not. 1990 Approval The occupation of the living accommodation hereby permitted shall only be limited to a person associated with the main horse activity on this site as edged green on the approved plan, and known as (Property Name), and shall not be used separately from these premises to which it relates, without prior written approval of the Planning Authority. We have been advised by two separate planning consultants that the tie would now be easy to remove, and this was suggested also by the Planning Officer as part of a recent pre-app for a house & stables to replace the stables building