A new 40-stable racehorse training yard is being planned to expand an existing yard in Upper Lambourn.
Plans have been lodged to build a new 40-stable training yard as an expansion of Frenchman’s View in Upper Lambourn.
Trainer Ed Walker wants to expand Frenchman’s View, with plans to further develop the site to include up to 59 boxes. The yard is a satellite training base to his main Kingsdown Stables, also in Upper Lambourn.
Walker is pushing to grow after a bumper 2024 — he had 74 winners and more than £1.3m in prize money, building on previous strong years such as 2018 (61 winners).
Frenchman’s View is currently a small training yard with a lad’s accommodation house, stores, a horse walker and an American-style barn of 14 boxes granted in 2006. The planning application seeks permission for additional facilities to include 40 boxes (two American barns with 20 boxes each), horse walker, storage barn, water treadmill barn, collecting ring, tack room/day facilities, racing office and a two‑bed staff cottage, along with ancillary works.
The application has been called in to West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee, which meets this Thursday (January 22), because of concerns over drainage and noise.
Jockey Club Estates supports the application, saying that the emerging Local Policy states that “proposals for the development of equestrian facilities that help to strengthen the rural economy will be supported”, adding “the policy aims to allow for the sensitive development and growth of the horseracing industry’ and recognises the influence of the horseracing industry on the local economy in Lambourn”.
It said: “The additional facilities at Frenchman’s will provide much-needed modern stabling and compliment the adjoining facilities at Kingsdown Stables.
“The expansion of the whole site to 120 stables will retain one of the village’s leading trainers and employers, as well as the increased employment opportunitiesn and economic activity that the additional horse numbers will generate.”
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
