West Berkshire horse racing trainer wants to build new stable yard
Ed Walker has applied to west Berkshire council to expand a satellite yard near to his Kingsdown stables
A new 40-stable racehorse training yard is being planned to expand an existing yard 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.
It is a satellite training yard to his main base at Kingsdown Stables, also in Upper Lambourn.
Mr Walker is expanding following a bumper year in 2024, with 74 winners and more than £1.3m in prize money, building on previous strong years like 2018 (61 winners).
Frenchman’s View is one of the extensive training facilities in the Lambourn valley – a major hub for both flat and National Hunt racing.
This application seeks planning permission for the construction of additional training 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.
Frenchman’s View is currently a small racehorse training yard consisting of a lad’s accommodation house, stores, horse walker and American-style barn of 14 boxes granted in 2006.
The application has been called in to West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee which meets this Thursday (January 22) becuase 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 opportunities and economic activity that the additional horse numbers will generate.”