You will usually need planning permission to build permanent stables in Hampshire. Some private stables may fall under permitted development rights, while a genuinely mobile field shelter may not need permission if it remains movable, is not fixed to the ground and is used to shelter grazing animals.
Hampshire includes cities, towns, coastal areas, open countryside and nationally protected landscapes. Your location can therefore affect the planning requirements and the stable designs your local authority is likely to support.
If you live in or near an urban area, contact the relevant city, district or borough council. Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council handle applications within their cities, while Rushmoor Borough Council covers Farnborough.
Additional restrictions may apply within the New Forest or South Downs National Parks, the North Wessex Downs, Cranborne Chase or Chichester Harbour National Landscapes, or a conservation area. If your plans affect a listed building or another protected structure within its grounds, you may also need listed building consent.
Your local authority will consider how the proposed stables affect the surrounding landscape and buildings. A design that reflects local materials, roof shapes and architectural features may fit more comfortably with local planning policies.
Use Hampshire County Council’s directory to find the correct Local Planning Authority before you begin. Our guide to planning permission for stables explains the general rules in more detail.
Below we share our tips for a stable block that fits well in a Hampshire context - whether you live by a conservation area or near a modern urban centre.
If you live in a protected or historic area, you may need to comply with additional planning restrictions. A stable design that fits the surrounding landscape and architecture may be more likely to meet local planning policies, although this does not guarantee approval.
Hampshire has a wide mix of architectural styles, from historic manor houses, red-brick cottages and medieval buildings to brick-and-flint farmhouses, historic naval buildings and thatched houses.
Features found across different parts of the county include:
The character varies between areas, so choose a stable design that complements the buildings around your property.
Clad your stable block with weatherboarding to give it a traditional look. Timber weatherboard cladding is common in historic and rural architecture in Hampshire. It involves installing long, overlapping boards to protect the building’s exterior walls from the elements.
Depending on its finish and exposure, timber cladding can weather to a silver-grey colour over time.
If the buildings around your property have steeply pitched roofs, consider a steeper roof pitch, such as the 35° roof on our Chester Tiled Roof Stables. Try to choose a covering and colour that complement the surrounding buildings.
Options include shaded red, brown or black Onduvilla, as well as clay, slate or Tapco tiles. If the surrounding roofs have a moderate pitch, consider matching their covering where possible.
Your Local Planning Authority or conservation officer can advise you on suitable materials for a listed building, conservation area or protected landscape.
Our guide to the best horse stable design features can help you choose doors, windows, roofing, storage and other additions.
If you live outside a designated area, like the New Forest National Park, you might not need to apply for planning permission, as long as you build a small stable block with a number of horses that reflects your household size.
Because the rules depend on the type of use, height, placement, boundaries, and existing buildings, it’s always worth speaking to your local authority to confirm what applies to your property.
Choose shiplap or weatherboarding for the cladding. Shiplap has a more modern appearance, while weatherboarding offers a more traditional finish.
If the stable block will sit near your home, consider a roof pitch and covering material that complement the existing building.
At Chart Stables, we build custom wooden stables that look at home in rural and historic settings alike.
We manufacture robust fixed and mobile stable blocks. Our fixed stables are available in the Clipper, Chart, and Chester ranges. Our mobile stables come in the Clipper and Chart ranges. If you are unsure which option suits your property, compare the pros and cons of mobile and fixed stables.
The Chester Tiled Roof Stables have a standard roof pitch of 35° and you can tile them with any material you like, making them ideal for properties in historic settings. You can extend the canopies to 1.8 metres (6 feet) to create extra weather protection for your horses. These come with thick support posts, strengthened headers, and traditional curved bracing.
The Chester and Chart ranges come with standard talk grilles between the stables.
Our fixed and mobile stables are constructed from durable, pressure-treated timber and feature kick boards, robust stable doors, shuttered windows, and anti-chew protection.
Each timber stable is custom-built to match your specific requirements, allowing you to choose the size, layout, and number of stalls. You can also select door styles and incorporate extras, such as a tack room, wash bay, or hay store.
At Chart Stables, we’re the UK's largest and most trusted equestrian building manufacturer. We can deliver and install your stables or create a DIY kit, saving you 20% on the unit cost.
Which planning authority covers my Hampshire property?
It depends on where you live. Applications may be handled by a district, borough or city council, or by the New Forest or South Downs National Park Authority. Use Hampshire County Council’s directory to find the correct authority.
Can I build stables in a Hampshire National Park or National Landscape?
You may be able to build stables, but additional planning and design restrictions can apply. Your plans should respond to the surrounding landscape, local architecture and relevant planning policies.
What stable design suits a historic Hampshire property?
Weatherboard cladding and a pitched clay or slate-tiled roof can complement many historic and rural properties. However, the right materials will depend on the architecture around your site and any local planning requirements.
Does Chart Stables deliver and install in Hampshire?
Yes. Chart Stables designs, delivers and installs fixed and mobile timber stables throughout Hampshire. DIY kits are also available.
