Building Specifications & Planning

Read more about Department of Agriculture Food & Marine specifications for building of horse facilities here

The DAFM page referenced at the link above provides information relating to planning and exempted rural developments. While this document is a useful guide to the parameters which must be met to qualify for exemptions from planning it is advisable to apply for any exemptions from the local planning office. These are private applications to local authority without need to put up signage at the property and should have a quicker turn around time than a full planning application. 

There are restrictions on exemptions (Article 9 of Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 as amended). development to which article 6 relates shall not be exempted development for the purpose of the Act if such development would 

• contravene a condition attached to a permission under the Act or be inconsistent with any use specified in a permission under the Act
• consist of or compromise the formation, laying out or material widening of a means of access to a public road the surfaced carriageway of which exceed 4 metres in width
• endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard or obstruction of road users
• works under a public road (e.g. underpass)
• interfere with the character of a landscape, or a view or prospect of special amenity value or special interest
• consist of or compromise the excavation, alteration or demolition (other than peat extraction) of places, caves, sites, features or other objects of archaeological, geological, historical, scientific or ecological interest
• consist of or compromise extension, alteration, repair or renewal of an unauthorised structure or a structure the use of which is an unauthorised use
• consist of demolition or such alteration of a building or other structure as would preclude or restrict the continuance of an existing use of a building or other structure where it is an objective of the planning authority to ensure that the building or other structure would remain available for such use
• consist of the fencing or enclosure of any land habitually open to or used by the public during the 10 years preceding
• obstruct any public right of way
• further to the provisions of section 82 of the Act, consist of or compromise the carrying out of works to the exterior of a structure, where the structure concerned is located within an architectural conservation area. 
• be in an area to which a special amenity order relates
• need an environmental impact assessment
• have significant repercussions on major accident hazards

Further specifications on the above linked page provide a useful guide for those embarking on building of horse facilities including stabling; all weather exercise areas; handling stocks; horse walkers. 

Key specifications to reference include S101, S102, S104, S108, S129, S148, S148A, and S156. S156 might be the most relevant specification for many to read as a starting point.