Want to buy land, Council are making it impossible!!

fashionlover10

What is this new law that says you can only walk four dogs at a time?

staple28

I would also like to know about this new law do you have a link please?

lincroft1710

Most grazing land used for horses started out as agricultural land, if there was a change of use from ag to non ag. (as grazing horses may not be considered to be agricultural) the a change of use may be required. You would need to check the current planning permission of that land and speak to the planners.

Planning laws are there for a purpose, planners are not intentionally trying to stop businesses from operating, but make sure they operate without causing nuisance to others.

lincroft1710

The occupier, rather than the owners, of any land or property pays any business rates due, there is no "double charge".

Given the probable cost of the land, the rates are going to be the least of your worries. I can't see the business being viable with such a huge expense.

lincroft1710

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

If it's agricultural land, it's not a change of use, as you are farming dogs.

Dogs are not agricultural animals, breeding and boarding kennels are rateable.

Prothet_of_Doom

mind you: milking them. I'd like to think that would be a you tube hit.

PheoUK

Rtype wrote: »

The land I am currently looking at is just over 3 acres, so pretty small (even though the price tag isn't), and the current use is for horse grazing.

I don't see how it will be any different if there are dogs on there or horses, does this mean that if I wish to put goats, chickens etc (which I would like to) I have to apply for change of usage again? Whats the difference??

Depends on whether its commercial or not.

Wonder if there is some kind of exemption for small holdings. You probably have to live on site or somesuch.

Think about it this way - the same law prevents any old person setting up a scrap dealership etc from any random field.

browneyedbazzi

For those asking about what the rules are that prohibit walking more than 4 dogs at a time:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dog-control-orders

It isn't a blanket rule that automatically applies everywhere - it looks to me like it has to be adopted by the local authority and an order issued in respect to relevant land.

fashionlover10

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

For those asking about what the rules are that prohibit walking more than 4 dogs at a time:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dog-control-orders

It isn't a blanket rule that automatically applies everywhere - it looks to me like it has to be adopted by the local authority and an order issued in respect to relevant land.

Thank you. I did try googling but all I found was something on an Essex country park website saying that they limit it to 4 dogs per person.
So the law isn't changing but probably OP's local park is imposing a limit under current guidelines.

OP can you not get in a volunteer to help you walk the dogs? From what I can work out from the linked publication the limit is X amount of dogs per person so 2 people could walk X number of dogs each together.

sleepymans

If I were in your shoes I would buy the land of my choice in the best location to suit my purposes. Then I would use it in a low key way for whatever I wanted...walking a few dogs and/or training a few dogs.

If, in the unlikely event someone raised an objection I would THEN apply for change of use to the appropriate "business" use and IF the rates demanded were too high, I would merely sell it on....you really wont lose as the value of any land in Surrey is not likely to fall, is it????