North Brook End Farm has for the last 23 years been used as an equestrian establishment. initially run as a stud by the farm estate, for the last ten years the site has provided the applicants with a base for their own stud, livery business and teaching/training school. The equine business has grown from its original use, which was principally for the applicants’ competition horses, followed by a small number of liveries and horses for breaking and schooling to the current level of activity that supports a small number of staff and includes an element of teaching and training of horses and riders. A well-established use, in 2008 the applicants purchased the property (having leased it for five years), which they intend to be the location for the ongoing development of an elite breeding programme for performance horses. These proposals would allow the development of one of the only dEFra (department for Environment, Food & rural affairs) approved artificial insemination centres for equines in the uk. It will also assist them in qualifying for the British Breeder Quality mark (BQm) awarded by the British Equestrian Federation. The applicants aim for the stud to be one of the leading establishments in the country. The proposals will provide improved facilities for current and future business activities and include the provision of a young stock barn to accommodate horses developed through the elite breeding programme, along with the replacement loose boxes and facilities such as an office, staff room and tack/feed storage to support the existing business. For the enterprise to succeed development of the property is essential. To support the long-term economic viability of the business it is essential that the applicants live on site and the proposals include the conversion of part of an existing barn to provide a modest residential unit and an ancillary staff flat. The permanent presence of the owners on site will ensure the ongoing welfare and safety of the horses and provide them with a much needed home. In developing these proposals consideration has been given to relevant planning policies, with which they broadly comply. In order to ensure that the business remains successful within a competitive market. The replacement loose boxes at the rear of the site will be used to accommodate mares and foals and will become the main mare and foal unit at the yard. The proposed young stock barn will replace an existing barn that was originally used to house sheep during the winter months. It now stands in a state of disrepair and is not suitable for housing any animals, but particularly valuable young horses. It is common practice to house weanlings and yearlings in such a barn as this allows for the separation of young horses from mature working horses and avoids any distress to competition stock. It also allows for the most efficient management of the stock and ensures the safety of both the handler and the young horses. This environment ensures the safety, security and comfort of young horses during the winter months and maintains a natural herd environment for these young horses. The existing barn will be converted to provide a range of facilities necessary for the efficient operation of the existing business, and also to provide existing and future clients with improved facilities. Within the barn the following facilities are proposed: An office / meeting room for use by the applicants and their staff in the day-to-day running of the equestrian business. This facility will also be used for meetings with existing and new clients. Such a facility does not currently exist on site and will be invaluable in the running of the business. A tack room will be provided with store above at the western end of the barn. at present all tack is brought onto site in the morning and taken away at night, as there is inadequate storage currently available. storage that is available is not secure as the owners are not present on site overnight due to the lack of residential accommodation. A small classroom and associated kitchen area to enable existing teaching to be enhanced, providing a room where theoretical training can take place. Teaching and training includes not only working with the horses and riders but also teaching new skills and providing information to the riders themselves. there is currently no space on site that is suitable for this task and the provision of an indoor teaching space will greatly enhance the facilities on offer at North Brook End Farm. as some of the teaching and training takes place over the course of a day or over several days, the provision of a small kitchen and eating area, which would be ancillary to the facilities provided at the site, would further improve the service that the applicants are able to provide. the applicants have on a number of occasions hired external venues to enable such teaching to be provided and this new facility would enable all types of training to be provided from the site. The first floor of the western part of the barn would be used partly for storage purposes with the remainder used to provide a one-bedroom staff flat for use by existing/future staff employed by the business. The applicants would be willing to accept a condition that ties the occupation of the staff flat to the business. The eastern end of the barn would be converted to provide a 3 bedroom dwelling over two floors (ground and first). At ground floor level a kitchen / dining room, utility, study and lounge will be provided. Three bedrooms (one with en-suite) and a family bathroom will be provided at first floor. Work is on going on site currently at North Brook End Farm. The apartment is fully habitable allowing the owners to be on site at all times.