Background
Jen and Duncan Cantor had moved to Hayfield, a picturesque village in High Peak, Derbyshire, after living overseas for some time. The couple wanted to rekindle their shared passion for riding and their new home – part of a hamlet of houses with an active farm next door – presented the perfect opportunity to build a 40m x 20m outdoor riding area of their own.
Challenge
As Jen and Duncan’s home was the heart of the Peak District National Park they knew that any works would need to adhere to strict planning regulations and for this they felt they needed advice from an expert.
An online search brought them to Ridesafe Arenas; recognised as experts in the construction of riding arenas and experienced in managing builds from planning through to completion.
Duncan said: “An arena is a big investment so it’s very important to get it right first time. Where we live is on a flood plain, the land we wished to build on wasn’t completely flat and we have rare, wildflowers to be considered. All of these things presented obstacles to any build and we knew there would be a lot of planning and paperwork to take care of before any works commenced.
“After liaising with Ridesafe Arenas about our plans, we trusted they were the perfect partners to guide us through the process.”
Solution
Ridesafe Arenas took control of the project from the outset, arranging for the required ecological, tree, drainage strategy and topographical surveys to be carried in support of the planning application.
The also presented a landscaping scheme to screen the arena from all the millions of walkers that frequent the area because of its natural beauty
Neil Harper, Managing Director of Ridesafe Arenas, said: “The planning process was complicated and lengthy given we were seeking permission at the height of Covid, so it took a lot of emails and phone calls to move things along.
“We also had to work out how, when the build started, we would get materials and vehicles on site as access was down a narrow farm track, making it tricky logistically.
“But once everything was signed off, the build was very much straightforward and in 10 days, Jen and Duncan had the very arena they’d long envisioned.”
Result
Jen and Duncan couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Duncan said: “It looks amazing. The Ridesafe team were brilliant throughout the whole process and we felt completely comfortable in their care. They tackled every aspect of the project with enthusiasm and did a brilliant job.
“We would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking to build an arena at their home.”
