Private equestrian use at Fields 678, 679 And 793 Adjacent To Ludham, Knaphill, Woking

The site and access

The site was rural land, with the proposed access taken through an existing agricultural gate from Littlewick Common rather than Littlewick Road.

“The proposed stables and tack and feed room building would be single storey in scale with a traditional pitched roof, including a small overhang along the front to provide “a covered area for washing down horses after exercise or as part of the daily grooming, farriery work, clipping etc.” (Planning Statement, para 2.4).”

“The proposed building would not be visually prominent or conspicuous due to its design, form and siting within the site. It would be contained within the south-west corner of the site and would be well screened in views from Littlewick Road (to the south) and from Littlewick Common (to the west) by well-established tree belts, hedgerows and understorey planting.”

Officer report

Earlier application and concerns

An earlier application proposed access from Littlewick Road and had highway and biodiversity refusal grounds; the current proposal changed the access arrangement.

“To the south of the site is Littlewick Road, a classified road (Road number: C12) which is publicly maintained, and which is subject to a speed limit of 40 mph. In respect of the previous application PLAN/2021/0808, it was formerly proposed to create a new vehicular access from Littlewick Road along part of the southern boundary of the site, though was resisted on the grounds that it could not be demonstrated that a suitable and adequate level of visibility could be…”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers found the development acceptable in the Green Belt, visually, for neighbours, drainage, trees, contamination, highways and biodiversity, subject to controls.

“To conclude, it is considered that the proposed development would constitute an exception to inappropriate development in the Green Belt, would preserve the openness of the Green Belt and would not conflict with its purposes.”

“The impact of the proposed development upon flood risk and drainage is considered acceptable subject to a condition that the submitted SuDS scheme is implemented in accordance with the information submitted. The proposed development is therefore considered to comply with Policy CS9 of the Woking Core Strategy (2012) and the NPPF (2024).”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector spoke, while the applicant and agent did not speak in support; Councillors Greentree and Pearce addressed the committee as ward members.

Members’ discussion

Members debated horse welfare, grazing and exercise facilities, the relationship between applications, agricultural impacts and biodiversity safeguards.

“Councillor S Greentree, Ward Member reiterated concerns previously raised in relation to the adequacy of the site for equestrian use. He referred the Committee to the Woking Local Development Documents, specifically the development management policies concerning equestrian facilities.”

“Councillor J Pearce, Ward Member sought clarification on the relationship between applications 6a and 6b, noting that the stables proposed under item 6a appeared to be located on land referenced in item 6b. He questioned whether a refusal of one application would affect the viability of the other.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Planning permission was granted subject to a legal agreement, the listed conditions and an additional construction transport condition and informative.

“[NOTE 1: The Planning Officer provided an update on a proposed additional condition and informative as detailed below;”

“(d) programme of works (including measures for traffic management) (e) HGV deliveries and hours of operation (f) measures to prevent the deposit of materials on the highway (g) on-site turning for construction vehicles has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved details shall be implemented during the construction of the development.”

Minutes