Lingfield Equine Hospital

Client: Lingfield Equine Vets
Local Planning Authority: Tandridge
Planning Constraints: Countryside, Green Belt

Lingfield Equine Vet are located on the A22 between Newchapel and Felbridge, just over a mile from East Grinstead in the Surrey green belt. Their location provides good access for clients across the South-East of England and has in part enabled them to become the successful veterinary practice they are. However, they had outgrown their on site facilities and they needed more. Historically, expansion of the site had met heavy resistance from Tandridge Council given its green belt location resulting in costly appeals.

Squires Planning were instructed to assist with the further growth of the site. Following a review of the planning history we provided a strategy to secure planning permission for the required growth. Working with the existing architect we recommended other inputs as necessary (such as landscape design) and prepared a site wide masterplan. Given the green belt location, very special circumstances were prepared by us to demonstrate the scheme's acceptability. The result of this work was a carefully prepared submission proposal with green belt policy being the sole area to be considered. Once submitted, the application received the support of the Parish Council (in contrast to previous proposals on the site) and we worked closely with officers at Tandridge District Council to justify that the development was acceptable, required, and that very special circumstances existed. The development was subsequently approved under delegated powers.

Since the approval of this application, we have continued to support the growing business, preparing and submitted applications on their behalf. This includes the expansion of the car park into the adjacent field to improve access, provide new and altered manoeuvring and parking areas, a new entrance gate, a loading ramp for horses and other landscaping works. We’ve also helped with an redevelopment/extension/enlargement of other facilities including their feed store, the practice’s stocks, drug store building, and a number of stable buildings.

To date, all applications that Squires Planning have assisted with on the site, have been approved under delegated authority.