Home made range

[turner73]

Hi, where i live, its fairly secluded and surrounded by fields and woods. My own ground is about four acres.
What would be the likely hood, of getting permission to build my own 50m range for my own private use, with the necessary safety in place, ie backstop.
I would only use subs with a moderated rifle, so no one would hear me anyway. I already have an open ticket, so would i just need to get it passed by my firearms officer?

Thanks in advance, Rob

[Sim G]

Probably easier just to get your own land as “permission”. “Zeroing” over your land is then permitted.Building stuff requires planning and that’s just a balls ache...

[Rockhopper]

If you have an open ticket and its your own land then just carry on I'd say. Its when you start building berms etc that you'll run into planning permission issues.

[turner73]

I already zero in the garden, which is actually a field. I know that the surrounding area is Fac passed off. As i know of other people who shoot on it. its not one of my permissions though!
So i could carry on as i am, i just fancied the idea of being able to set up a good plinking range on my doorstep. :)

[Thorney]

Welcome to my World.

In terms of planning you need none, if you land is signed off under your ticket for vermin then you can shoot on it how you like, things like backstops etc are meaningless as your liability to shoot rests with you and your determination of safe shooting - ie you know where your round will end up.

However, if you want to build bunds then you need planning permission as its engineering work and tbh - good luck. Its possible of course, we did it but only on appeal and after tens of thousands of fees so unless you are doing it commercially then I wouldnt bother.

If you are shooting low velocity then your angle of deflection is around 15 degrees so shoot at a downward angle and if possible a few stacks of hay bales a couple high to catch any ricochet you might have but even then be prepared to pull then down if the council ask.

[TomH]

Nothing to stop you doing some landscaping on your own property.

[Thorney]

Nothing to stop you doing some landscaping on your own property.

Depends on size, under a metre is generally acceptable to most local authorities but there is no fixed rule, 2m height (the bare minimum for even a home plinking backstop I'd say) would be considered 'engineering works' and require planning permission and most likely a change of use from agri (or whatever it is) to leisure use.

[meles meles]

We'd recommend that you do some terra-forming to enhance the floral and faunal diversity of the aforesaid property. An earth bank or three to enhance drainage and provide elevated soil upon which a few rare species that like drier roots might thrive, collectively providing an increased atmospheric carbon dioxide uptake and homes to pretty flutterbys, lesser spotted ouzels and all manner of bugs and grubs for them to feed upon. Some pretty wildflowers will soon colonise the ramparts too. You'll have a nice wild garden, screened from outside attention... Alan Titchmarsh would be proud of you.

[Thorney]

We'd recommend that you do some terra-forming to enhance the floral and faunal diversity of the aforesaid property. An earth bank or three to enhance drainage and provide elevated soil upon which a few rare species that like drier roots might thrive, collectively providing an increased atmospheric carbon dioxide uptake and homes to pretty flutterbys, lesser spotted ouzels and all manner of bugs and grubs for them to feed upon. Some pretty wildflowers will soon colonise the ramparts too. You'll have a nice wild garden, screened from outside attention... Alan Titchmarsh would be proud of you.

And then shoot at it :)

[meles meles]

Us didn't say that didn't we !

Of course, if the aforesaid secret garden was surrounded by nice grassy knolls and pretty shrubbery then what happened therewithin wouldn't be seen nor heard...