30 June 2025 · Planning Committee
Moaney Moar Open Farm, Ballabooie Road, Cronk Y Voddy, Kirk Michael, Isle Of Man, IM6 1ba
The proposal involves constructing a steel-framed barn measuring 56.75m x 31.5m (1,788m²) with a 17.8m x 53.6m indoor riding arena, private and commercial stabling (15 stables total), tack rooms, wash bays, and hay/tractor store, clad in green corrugated aluminium sheeting with a matching roof and 56 polycarbonate skyl…
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The officer assessed the principle of development as acceptable because the site is part of an existing operational equestrian centre on land already in equestrian use (replacing an outdoor sand-surfa…
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect scale, form, design, character, and visual amenity of surroundings. Officer found green cladding, low elevation site, and screening ensure low visual impact, clustering with existing buildings, and no dominant feature, preserving rural character.
General Policy 3
Exceptions to development in countryside. Acceptable as on existing equestrian land with no agricultural loss, tied to farm needs.
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside unless overriding need and no alternative. Proposal justified by functional equestrian need on existing site, low visual harm.
Environment Policy 2
Areas of High Landscape or Coastal Value. Site in AHLV (D6); low impact from screening/topography overrides presumption against large equestrian developments.
Environment Policy 19
Environment Policy 19 - Development of Equestrian Activities and Buildings. Permitted where no amenity or high-quality land loss; site already equestrian, no residential neighbours.
Environment Policy 20
Presumption against large scale equestrian in AHLV unless exceptional. Exceptional as enhances existing operations, screened location.
Environment Policy 21
Buildings for stabling/shelter of horses in countryside. Acceptable design and location tied to farm.
Environment Policy 14
Permanent loss of important agricultural land (Classes 1-2). No loss as site already equestrian.
Environment Policy 15
Agricultural need for new building. Supports existing farm equestrian activities.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Approved plans
The development for the private equestrian facilities including an indoor riding arena with associated stabling, tack, and equipment stores, hereby permitted, shall be constructed in accordance with the approved details as outlined on the submitted Drawings - Drawing Nos. 101 and 102 and retained as such thereafter.
Biodiversity mitigation (bats and birds)
Prior to the commencement of the development, hereby permitted, details of bio-diversity mitigation measures in respect of Protected Species (bats) and nesting birds shall be submitted to and approved in writing by DEFA Planning. Such details shall cover avoidance of harm to protected species, and nesting birds. The mitigation measures and biodiversity enhancement shall make provision for at least 3 bird nest boxes to be erected high up on the northern elevation of the new building, but not above windows or doors; and, that 3 boxes suitable for swift are erected. Following written approval of the scheme by DEFA, these details shall be implemented in full prior to the first use of the private equestrian facility and shall, thereafter, be retained and maintained for the lifetime of the development.
Drainage details
Details of foul and surface water drainage provision to serve the development, hereby approved, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by DEFA Planning. Such approved drainage scheme shall be installed prior to the development hereby permitted being first occupied and shall thereafter be retained and maintained at all times.
External lighting details
Prior to the construction of any of the development, hereby permitted, above finished ground floor level, all details of any external lighting to be applied to the buildings surfaces or at ground level around the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by DEFA Planning. Any such lighting shall be installed prior to the development being first occupied and shall thereafter be retained and maintained at all times.
Landscaping scheme
Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, details of a landscape scheme shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. All planting, seeding, and any earthworks comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting season following the substantial completion of the development; and any trees or plants which, within a period of 5 years from the completion of the development, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species. Thereafter, all soft and hard landscape works shall be permanently retained in accordance with the approved details.
Use restriction
The arena hereby approved must be used only for equestrian and/or agricultural purposes in association with Moaney Moar Farm and shall not be used for any commercial use or commercial purposes.
Removal if use ceases
In the event that the equestrian facility, hereby approved, is no longer used or required for equestrian/agricultural activities, the building and its associated structures shall be removed and the ground restored to its former condition within 12 months of the date the use ceased.
no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking as the proposals support an existing equestrian operation which has previously not raised any site access or road safety concerns, nor recorded road injury accidents
