[WiltshireWanderer]

Hello helpful people, at least you appear to be from forum!

I'm trying to understand the term "Paddock" as used by an estate agent. My partner and I are interested in buying a house in Wiltshire that comes with a 3.5 acre paddock.  We would very much like to grow veg - some in open air and some in a poly tunnel, keep chickens, have a small orchard (4 to 6 trees), plant a wild flower meadow and put a shed to store tools on the 'paddock' land.

Currently the land has been left to go to grass, although kept a reasonable length (1 foot).

I'm guessing the term paddock just means agricultural use, maybe with a right to graze horses, but can we do all the stuff we want to (mainly the fruit trees, poly tunnel and shed)?

Any insights would gratefully received.  Even if just advice on who to ask for an official answer!

[caz]

I think they use the term paddock for small fields. Pretty sure you will need planning permission for any sheds and poly tunnels.

[clydesdaleclopper]

You need to check with the planning authority whether is is designated for agricultural or equine use as that will make a difference to what you can do.

[Cosmore]

Definition according to Black's agricultural dictionary - Paddock : A relatively small enclosed pasture, usually near the farm buildings.

However, the usage of the term paddock varies, possibly the estate agent is using the term in order to maximise appeal to livestock owners and attract horse owners (who are used to the term 'Horse Paddock') who often will pay more for pasture land which tends to be in short supply for horse use.

[mart6]

Paddock is almost always agricultural land meaning it is not within the curtilge of the house.
The uses you describe should be fine.
Whatever you do do not place anything that could be classed as residential on the site.
If you do and the council arrive  it will open a massive can of worms

Paddocks sometimes have equine use ie have planning permission for a stable but most do not they have field shelters

[pharnorth]

Theses days paddock is used by estate agents like cottage, just a cute countrified sounds more expensive jargon word.  The previous answers are all valid but it really depends on the use age accepted by the local planning authority and their interpretation on planning regs. Might be worth asking your local authority what the useage is.

[mart6]

Sometimes the information you receive from the council (how do i put this politely) is not always factually correct and you may find some planning officers are quite clueless

[Cosmore]

Sometimes the information you receive from the council (how do i put this politely) is not always factually correct and you may find some planning officers are quite clueless

Yes I'll go along with that - to be sure try and get their answer in writing - if you can convince the council official to commit themselves......(unlikely, Lol.)

[SallyintNorth]

Paddock is almost always agricultural land meaning it is not within the curtilge of the house.

Agree

The uses you describe should be fine.

Do not agree.  My experience was some years ago, but digging veg beds in agricultural land was a no-no; veg beds are domestic.

Whatever you do do not place anything that could be classed as residential on the site.

Agree.

Whatever you do do not place anything that could be classed as residential on the site.
If you do and the council arrive

or one of the neighbours takes agin you and reports you

it will open a massive can of worms

[mart6]

Sometimes the information you receive from the council (how do i put this politely) is not always factually correct and you may find some planning officers are quite clueless

Yes I'll go along with that - to be sure try and get their answer in writing - if you can convince the council official to commit themselves......(unlikely, Lol.)

Agree 100% gets better when you ring up tell them you are recording the conversation
3/1 the line goes dead

[pharnorth]

Totally get the comments re local authorities nonetheless they are the arbitrators so you either make tactful enquiries of them or make some subtle but not too expensive changes and wait for the knock at the door. 

[doganjo]

Read the legal pack? Estate agent/solicitor's information pack?  House Buyers Report?

[mart6]

Would you believe everything a council head planning officer or enforcement officer told you ?

I sat in the council offices with a head planner and a enforcement officer for a hour and twenty mins and was shocked when they gave me incorrect information several times.
Got quite heated to the stage where they had to refer to planning journals only to find themselves lacking in the fact department.

Whole affair is still ongoing and the two officers have made a statement of case, which if they follow through will mean both of them telling porkies.

Should be interesting as i will publish everything after the appeal is decided by the planning inspector
but i think people will be shocked to see what can happen

[pharnorth]

Would you believe everything a council head planning officer or enforcement officer told you?

There are are honest and dishonest people in every profession and bad experiences can make you very wary.  But to go back to the original question 'paddock' has no legal meaning so to understand how the land can be used Wiltshirewanderer needs to find out the designation from their solicitor or the planning office directly.