Planning Permission
Planning permission is almost always required by local authorities. We offer a specialist, professional, and efficient planning service through our planning and design consultant partners, who have extensive experience in equine developments.
This service is available from approximately £1,000 + VAT.
Provided that planners and neighbours are fully consulted, obtaining consent is rarely an issue. The official decision process, from the point of a validated submission, is stated to take eight weeks. However, in our experience, this timeframe is often delayed for various reasons, including the issuance of conditions attached to the planning consent. These conditions typically require a further eight weeks to be signed off before work can commence. Overall, the time from validation to approval can range from 4 to 12 months or even longer.
Our consistent advice is to submit your application well in advance.
Useful Information
Since 2015/16, planning departments have come under increasing pressure. As a result, planning approvals often include conditions that must be discharged before construction can begin, causing further delays.
From 2016 onwards, we have observed a growing trend where planners request additional surveys—such as environmental, arboricultural, and increasingly, archaeological reports—when applications are submitted. These requirements can significantly extend the standard 8-week decision period.
Chartered Surveyor
We work with our independent FRICS Planning Consultant, who is dedicated to understanding and supporting our clients’ requirements. They work closely with you to develop and submit planning applications, while also providing efficient monitoring throughout the decision-making process.
Please allow plenty of time for applications to be processed. Surveys can be time-consuming, costly, and are often requested unexpectedly by planning authorities.
From Surveying
With expert knowledge and precise surveying tools, we minimise ground disturbance—no unnecessary digging or planning breaches from excess soil movement.
To Completion
Just 16 days later this is the result. Professionally built, on time, and ready for use.
Client Testimonials
“I just wanted to thank you very much for your idea re turning the area of rubble into a hard standing area. I had not appreciated quite how bad the paddocks would get here and it has been a real godsend in that it has enabled us to give the horses some turn out over the winter months. It has held out well considering the use it’s had. I also love the muck heap and the local farmer was very impressed with the set up in that it is easy for him to access and bring the trailer close up to.”
“Our school is fantastic and so I would like to say a huge thank you. After one of the wettest winters and not a drop of water on our surface I will certainly be recommending Mark Scott Arenas. Thank you for all the hard work.”
“If anyone would like to come and see our arena it is riding really well and I would be happy to show anyone the excellent results of your work. It has made a huge difference to our lives, especially after such a shocking winter.”
“Demolition of commercial dog kennels, replaced with new Stables and Yard, new adjoining Arena. Again, thank you for a great job. It was a pleasure working with someone that is fair and straightforward.”
“I just wanted to write and thank you for your very courteous and professional consultation. It is a matter of considerable regret that we are not in a position to proceed with the improvements at present, but we were very impressed by your expertise and honest assessment. Thank you for your time and for your advice.”
“I just wanted to let you know that despite the horrible wet winter the arena has held up really well. The hard standing next to it has had water pooled on it and a ‘river’ running across it with water draining from my neighbour’s field, but the school has been absolutely fine. This despite the heavy clay that it is sitting on. Nor did it freeze during the cold weather over the past few days. A happy customer!”
“The school is amazing and riding really well. Liam is over the moon with it and his dressage horse has come on in leaps and bounds through having a proper surface to ride on. He is now competing at medium level. We haven’t jumped on it yet but hopefully will soon (planning to paint the jumps over Christmas). The horses have settled in really well and seem far more relaxed here than in their last place. Thank you for providing us with such a brilliant school.”
“the arena exceeded our expectations and there was not one puddle or even damp bit of the ménage throughout the whole of the 2013/2014 winter!! Looking at the fields around it gave us some idea of what it was coping with.”
