Spring Farm, Mayfield

Smith Jenkins were brought in after an earlier application for an equine training facility had been withdrawn due to concerns that it would cause harm to a nearby listed building. Our client needed a fresh approach and a strong case that could stand up to scrutiny.

From the outset, we worked closely with the owner to establish both the need for the facility and the importance of choosing a location that would minimise impact. We carried out a detailed assessment, weighing heritage alongside landscape character, ecology, and wider planning considerations. This demonstrated that the proposed site was not only the most appropriate but in fact the only viable option.

Understanding the unique topography of the land was key. We insisted on a pre-application site meeting to show how significant level changes meant the menage could be sensitively located at a lower level, completely out of view from the listed building.

The conservation officer agreed with our assessment and confirmed that the scheme would preserve the building’s significance—overturning the advice that had led to the earlier withdrawal.