A decade after construction began, a private equestrian facility in Milton has finally secured official planning consent from Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
The all-weather riding arena on Bagnall Road had been operating without formal permission since its establishment.
Owner Carl Davies built the facility as an exercise space for his family’s four horses.
The retrospective application sought to regularise both the arena and an accompanying timber storage structure positioned behind his property.
The matter came before the planning committee after Councillor Dave Evans requested it be reviewed at that level.
Despite having functioned for ten years, the development still required full planning approval as Davies was unable to furnish documentation confirming the arena’s age.
The proposal initially appeared before councillors in 2023 but was postponed to allow planning officers to examine concerns about drainage, traffic flow and lighting arrangements.
Fresh complaints emerged following that deferral, intensifying scrutiny of the development.
The resident complained about Craig Davies’s shed for his horse
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CRAIG DAVIES/FACEBOOK
Local resident Christine Hulson voiced strong opposition to the scheme.
She stated: “The applicant said in his original application a modest shed, it is in fact eight metres by four metres, it is directly onto our hedge which has died as a result.
“The structure is poorly constructed, visually intrusive and an eyesore from our garden.”
She added: “All of this has had a huge impact on our lives for over a decade. In our opinion a development of this type should not be carried out at the rear of a semi-detached bungalow, in very close proximity to neighbouring properties in a residential area, on a narrow road.”
Committee members voted unanimously to grant permission, but attached several restrictions to address residents’ worries.
The approved conditions cap the number of horses at four and stipulate that the arena must remain exclusively for private family use.
Additionally, the council mandated that any horse box must be parked on the property’s driveway rather than on the street.
This requirement aims to prevent traffic congestion on the narrow residential road.
Councillor Laura Carter expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying: “I’m quite happy all those concerns we had have been answered.
“I think the concerns of the objector are answered in the conditions.”
The decision brings closure to a lengthy planning dispute that had divided neighbours in the Milton community for more than ten years.
The approval marks the end of a protracted planning saga that began when the facility was first constructed without obtaining the necessary permissions.
The arena had been in continuous use throughout the intervening years whilst its legal status remained unresolved.
The conditions imposed by the council aim to minimise disruption to neighbouring properties whilst allowing the Davies family to continue exercising their horses.
The restrictions on commercial use ensure the facility remains small-scale and appropriate for its residential setting.
Planning officers had worked with the applicant to address the various concerns raised during the extended consultation period.
The final scheme represents a compromise between the family’s equestrian needs and the legitimate concerns of nearby residents about noise, traffic and visual impact in their quiet neighbourhood.