Racehorse trainer Ed Walker has applied to West Berkshire Council to build a new 40-stable yard at his satellite facility in Upper Lambourn. The expansion follows a successful 2024 season with 74 winners and over £1.3 million in prize money. The application will be reviewed by the council's western area planning committee on January 22 due to concerns about drainage and noise.
Ed Walker, based at Kingsdown Stables in Upper Lambourn, is planning to develop Frenchman’s View, a satellite training yard, into a larger operation. The proposal includes constructing two American barns with 20 boxes each, totaling 40 new stables, bringing the site's capacity to up to 59 boxes. Additional facilities would feature a horse walker, storage barn, water treadmill barn, collecting ring, tack room, day facilities, racing office, and a two-bedroom staff cottage, along with ancillary works.
Currently, Frenchman’s View consists of a small setup granted permission in 2006, including a lad’s accommodation house, stores, horse walker, and an American-style barn with 14 boxes. The Lambourn valley is a key hub for both flat and National Hunt racing, and Walker's expansion aims to capitalize on his recent achievements. In 2024, he recorded 74 winners and earned more than £1.3 million in prize money, building on strong performances like 61 winners in 2018.
The application has been called in for discussion at West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee meeting this Thursday, January 22, primarily due to concerns over drainage and noise. However, Jockey Club Estates has voiced support for the plans. In a statement, it noted that emerging local policy supports proposals for equestrian facilities that bolster the rural economy, allowing sensitive development and growth in the horseracing industry, which significantly influences Lambourn's local economy.
“The additional facilities at Frenchman’s will provide much-needed modern stabling and complement the adjoining facilities at Kingsdown Stables,” the Jockey Club Estates said. “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.”