From Winner's Circle to Workspace: The Story Behind the Stables
A block of stables at a Berkswell farm, which once housed successful racehorses, has been officially granted permission to operate as office space following a tragic series of events that led the owners to quit the racing world.
Solihull Council's planning department has approved a retrospective application for the change of use at Truggist Hill Farm, regularising a conversion that began back in 2021. The decision was formally issued by officer Mark Andrews on November 6, 2025.
A Dream Cut Short by Tragedy
The stables were originally approved in a 2019 application from applicant Peter Hughes. The facility was built to accommodate four horses competing in flat racing.
According to the planning documents, two principal horses were stabled and trained at the site by Dan Skelton, a renowned Olympic rider and trainer. These racehorses enjoyed considerable success during the racing seasons between 2018 and 2021, representing a significant financial investment for the owners.
However, the operation came to a devastating halt in 2021. First, one of the two prized racehorses had to be put down following an unfortunate accident during training. Shortly afterwards, the second racehorse succumbed to a severe lung infection and died.
The application states that Mr and Mrs Hughes were deeply upset by these events and made the difficult decision to quit racing and racehorse ownership entirely. This personal tragedy rendered the stables redundant.
A New Chapter Begins
In the wake of this heartbreaking decision, the owners sought a new purpose for the building. Since 2021, the site has been used as office accommodation.
The conversion required no structural changes to the building. The application stressed that no alterations were made to the footprint, height, or roof structure of the stable block.
The retrospective application, submitted to the council in May 2023 under reference PL/2023/00997/PPFL, sought to formally approve this existing change of use.
Officials concluded that the new office use would provide an additional economic benefit to the community by supporting employment in a rural environment. Furthermore, the change has actually reduced traffic in and out of Truggist Hill Farm, as the previous horse movements have ceased.
Planning permission has been granted subject to standard conditions, marking the official start of a new, quieter era for the building that once echoed with the sounds of champion racehorses.
