Potential plans to transform the grounds of a historic farmhouse into a dog exercise field with camping for schools have been put forward. Lynch Farm is a Grade II listed farmhouse and outbuildings on the edge of Ferry Meadows Country Park in approximately seven acres of paddocks and green space.
A riding school had been run by tenants at the site for 50 years but following its closure, Nene Park Trust, which took over the site in August 2023, is now hoping to put the grounds back into use.
An earlier planning application for the farm was withdrawn in April last year following criticism from residents and councillors about likely noise disturbance. The resubmitted plans, which were validated by Peterborough City Council on January 2, have been tweaked to change the maximum number of dogs using the dog paddock and where the parking will be to minimise impact on residents.
If approved, the dog exercise field will be an enclosed space on the east side of the site and will be bookable by the hour, with no more than two dogs allowed in the field at any one time with one car.
Lynch Farm masterplan
(Image: Nene Park Trust)
The designated area for camping would be to the north of the site and would allow for up to 14 bell tents on site and a ‘pitch your own’ area for 10 tents. The trust is planning to widen the entrance to the site to five metres wide so that vehicles can pass each other and a footpath will be created to join to the current path on Wistow Way to the east of the entrance.
Matthew Bradbury, CEO of Nene Park Trust, said: “Following a number of public consultations in October we have now submitted our planning application for phase one of our developments at Lynch Farm on the south west side of Ferry Meadows.
“This amended application is a reflection of the feedback we received first time round, for example the enclosed dog exercise field will now be for a maximum of two dogs and one car.
“We’re really excited to bring the site back into regular community use and this application marks the first stage of us bringing this much-loved site back to life.”
The trust’s long-term vision for the site includes the following:
- Securing the heritage of the listed building
- Year-round events programme for heritage, arts, culture and leisure
- Education and learning programme working with local partners
- Volunteer and community engagement
- Accommodation offers for schools and events
- Food and beverage offer
- Wedding, conferencing and event venue hire
- A garden space reflecting both heritage and well-being