Indoor school with thirteen boxes granted to an international dressage rider in Kent

This application was made on behalf of an international dressage rider to transform his equestrian site to a model that is commonly seen in the rest of Europe.

The application was for a new equestrian indoor school with 13 stables, a roof to an existing horse walker, the creation of a detention basin, and the creation of a canter track, meeting, and training facilities, all conveniently under one roof and enabling the business to continue despite poor weather and lack of daylight in the winter.

The previous facilities were inadequate and not fit for purpose, with the increasingly wet climate made it difficult to train horses in the outdoor school, especially in winter when short days are also a factor.

The level of training also requires a quiet environment to allow focus on advanced dressage movements. They also had visits from team selectors, so a well-presented public face was becoming increasingly necessary.

The building was sensitively designed using a scale, form, and materials common to the agricultural landscape within which it sits and contributes to the local and rural economy. Our team was able to demonstrate that the proposal satisfies both national and local planning policy and ensures the growth of a successful equestrian business.