A multi-millionaire plans to set up a thoroughbred stud farm near Hereford. Clive Boultbee Brooks is seeking planning permission for “an equestrian enterprise” at Little Canwood Farm, Woolhope east of Hereford.
A report accompanying his application says Mr Boultbee Brooks “now plans to have a small brood mare enterprise (up to seven mares + progeny)” at the site, “producing thoroughbred foals from top racing bloodlines”. This will require “a suitably experienced person to live on-site to provide round-the-clock care and supervision of high-value brood mares and their progeny”, it claims – given that theft of horses and equipment is “a predominant feature of rural crime”.
This two-storey, two-bedroom accommodation would be in a converted steel-framed barn which would also house 20 stables, a tack room and feed store. The application explains that Mr Boultbee Brooks, who has “a passion” for horse breeding and racing, “now wishes to scale back the beef enterprise owing to the loss of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) farm subsidy, and increasing costs associated with livestock production”.
However the horses will only need around 20 acres of pasture out of the farm’s 550 acres, from which all hay will be supplied. Manure from the stables would be spread on the rest of the farm, “or exported to another holding under the ownership/control of the applicant”, the application says.
Comments on it can be made until January 25. Mr Boultbee Brooks is the co-founder, with his brother Steve, of commercial property development firm Boultbee, and is listed as a director of 186 other companies.
The 2019 Sunday Times Rich List put his personal wealth at £319 million.