A new horse riding therapy centre for children with disabilities is being planned near Scarva.
Proposals for the exciting new development have been submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for consideration.
The application, in the name of Robert Gault, relates to a site “160 metres east of 88 Acton Road, Scarva”.
The site is currently vacant and described in the application as “agricultural land”.
The development includes grazing paddocks and a sand arena, with a central building.
It will comprise six stables, a tack room, and storage for horse waste, bedding, and hay bales, along with a wash bay and feed room.
For the benefit of users, the central service concourse also includes a quiet room, unisex disabled toilet facilities, and storage for disability equipment.
Planting is also planned around the perimeter, and there would be three parking bays on site.
The facility is described in the application as an “equine therapy centre for children with medical needs”.
The applicants believe the new centre would greatly benefit both users and the local community.
A supporting planning statement said their intention is “to develop this abandoned area of agricultural land into a riding therapy centre for children with disabilities”.
The statement reveals: “The development is entirely designed around providing outdoor recreation to those with disabilities and medical conditions.”
It explains: “The Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) for Northern Ireland has, as one of its core planning principles, improving health and well-being. This proposal, through outdoor recreation, is compliant with that aim by providing a bespoke outdoor riding facility for those with medical conditions, which is recognised as a form of therapy by improving both physical and mental well-being.
“The SPPS promotes economic development within settlements or at the edge of settlement limits to protect rural character, unless the proposal entails farm diversification or reuse of an abandoned rural economic site. However, the development hereby proposed, by its very core nature of using horses as therapy animals, necessitates a location away from residential areas — not only to protect high-density residential amenity but also due to animal husbandry requirements.
“With regards to open space and outdoor recreation, the SPPS states: ‘Government recognises that open space, sport and outdoor recreation is important to society now and in the future. It supports many cultural, social, economic, health and environmental benefits. Everyone, particularly children, older people and people with disabilities, should have easy access to open space and the opportunity to participate in sport and outdoor recreational activity or simply enjoy and have contact with nature.’
“It is therefore considered that the SPPS supports the proposed development.
“Further, due to the nature of the development proposed, it is impractical to obtain an area sufficient to provide stabling, associated storage, sand arena, and paddock areas within a settlement limit.
“The proposal has been designed to have no negative impact upon nearby residential amenity. Residential amenity is further protected by the business model proposed by the applicants, as the hours of operation are curtailed and sessions are pre-booked on a one-to-one basis.
“As there are no environmental constraints evident on site, the proposed new landscaping will enhance biodiversity.”
The building would “integrate sympathetically” into its surroundings, according to the statement.
It adds: “With regards to design, care has been taken to minimise the visual appearance of the main building by setting it back from the public road, placing it on a lower level, using existing screening and proposing new screening, using sympathetic building materials, and replicating the agricultural design commonly found locally.
“It is anticipated that DfI Roads will consider the proposal does not impact upon road safety.”
The site has been “unused as prime agricultural land for a significant number of years”, and the “development proposed is compatible with nearby agricultural activities”.
The statement confirms that pre-submission conversations have taken place with ABC Council’s Environmental Health team, “who informally raised no concerns”.
In terms of operating the business, it adds: “It should be noted that the building’s floor level, the use of acoustic timber cladding, and the orientation of the building openings have been purposely chosen to minimise any impact on nearby residential amenity in terms of noise and odour.
“Further, in terms of any perceived nuisance from clients on site and vehicle levels, the business model is designed so that sessions are pre-booked on a one-to-one basis, with no sessions planned over Saturdays and Sundays.
“In addition, there will be no bookings after 6pm.
“This business model has been chosen to negate any impact upon nearby residential amenity.”
In an effort to “negate any negative impact on nearby residential amenity in terms of noise and odours – aside from customer parking – all activities are enclosed under one roof, with no outside storage proposed”.
In addition: “The number of stables required reflects the necessity to offer clients horses of a bespoke height and temperament compatible with their own height and needs. Considering the age range of disabled children using the therapy centre, the number of stables reflects the number of horses required to cover all possible needs.”
In conclusion, the applicants believe the proposal in part: “Fulfils the aims of the local Community Plan by making the ABC Council area a healthier place to live, by allowing local residents the opportunity to make positive lifestyle choices to address the medical issues they have to live with, within the district they reside in.”
The proposals will now be advertised shortly, with a decision expected in due course.
