A PLANNING application has been made for an outdoor riding academy, as well as an indoor riding school, at Waterside country estate in Passfield, near Liphook.

The estate covers 140 acres and includes large areas of cultivates trees and gardens with the River Wey passing through near the main house. The proposed equestrian facilities would be on land used for farming activities in recent years.

It would – if approved by East Hampshire planners – comprise an indoor school for dressage competition, an outdoor manege plus a small viewing area.

An existing agricultural building would also be converted to provide stabling, feed storage as well as tack rooms.

The applicant, Mr N Gould, states the proposed facilities will be entirely for the use of the family living at the house as well as family guests, and that a full-time groom will be engaged for the care of the horses.

The main house at Waterside is accessed from Headley Road via a small lane, while the existing barn is reached via a track from Bramshott Road, which would be used for the proposed equation facility.

The site is well-screened from the west, south and east by existing trees and more trees are proposed to be planted along the northern side of the buildings to provide screening from Bramshott Road as well as native hedging around the manege area.

Bramshott and Liphook Parish Councillors had no objections in principle but raised concerns regarding the loss of any agricultural land. They also considered the outdoor academy (a manege) could be located in the area south of the existing barn, which would not encroach into open countryside.