Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee recommended approval for retrospective permission to change the use of a historic agricultural storage compound into a horse manege at East Nolton Farm, Nolton Haven. Officers deemed the design, scale, and siting acceptable, noting the manege is well screened and does not harm biodiversity or the park’s special qualities. Although the site is on best and most versatile agricultural land, relocating it to lower-grade land would increase visual intrusion. The development supports an existing tourism business, which was considered a material factor outweighing the usual policy against losing prime agricultural land.
The applicants own over 400 acres in the area and have diversified their operations to include holiday lets under the Nolton Coast brand, with holiday accommodation now their main income source. The horse manege continues the family’s long-standing equestrian business, adapting post-Covid to clients bringing their own horses for riding on farm tracks. The agent emphasized the current site’s good screening and argued that moving the manege would make it more visually prominent. The committee approved the application, viewing it as a sensible proposal supported by planning officers.
