A Somerset equestrian centre, Hartley Wood Equestrian Centre, has encountered financial challenges and is now seeking to undergo a significant transformation. The owners, Richard Evans and Michele Britton, have taken the initiative to submit a planning application to Bath and North East Somerset Council in hopes of redeveloping the struggling facility into a housing development consisting of nine homes.
The centre, which was acquired by Evans and Britton in 2009 as a business in liquidation, has grappled with the absence of additional grazing land. Despite efforts to revitalize the business through investments in show jumping competitions and dressage tests, it has been unable to sustain its operations financially.
In light of the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the business has continued to experience substantial losses. Consequently, the owners have proposed the conversion of the equestrian centre into residential housing. The outline planning application features designs for a horseshoe-shaped block around a courtyard, with a central “farm house” building and each dwelling accompanied by a garden. Notably, the existing meadow would be preserved, emphasizing a harmonious coexistence between the new homes and the natural surroundings.
READ MORE: Frome bids farewell to long-serving town crier Mike Bishop
READ MORE: From Dump to Nature: Somerset’s Remarkable Transformation
The proposal, which aims to repurpose the site in a strategic manner, represents a departure from the previous attempt that was thwarted due to concerns about isolation and the impact on the green belt. Developers have underscored that the site is not isolated, as it is in proximity to other rural homes, and have emphasized the reduction of brownfield land within the green belt for the building area as a key benefit to the site’s surroundings.
As the application process unfolds, the proposed designs remain subject to further adjustments. The potential transformation of the equestrian centre into a residential area not only reflects the owners' response to the operational challenges but also highlights the evolving landscape of the local community.