Racehorse stud farm plans revealed

The proposed stud farm would be built at Little Canwood Farm in Woolhope

A millionaire property developer is planning to set up a thoroughbred stud farm in Herefordshire.

Clive Boultbee Brooks has applied for permission for an "equestrian enterprise" at Little Canwood Farm, Woolhope, east of Hereford.

A report accompanying his application said Mr Boultbee Brooks was planning "a small brood mare enterprise" at the site, "producing thoroughbred foals from top racing bloodlines".

An employee would live on-site "to provide round-the-clock care and supervision of high-value brood mares and their progeny", said the application.

They would be housed in a two-storey, two-bedroom accommodation in a converted steel-framed barn, which would also house 20 stables, a tack room and feed store.

The application added that the horses would only need about 20 acres of pasture out of the farm's 550 acres, from which all hay would 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".

Comments on the application can be made until 25 January.

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 £319m.