Even greater opportunities for equestrian land??

Jill Scrivener recently spoke at the BIAC national planning conference about the opportunities associated with equestrian buildings/development, identifying (to the surprise of many - if the information requests post-conference are anything to go by) that equestrian buildings/development can be considered to be ‘previously developed land’ (or a brownfield site) as set out at Annex 2 of the NPPF - with the additional opportunities this brings.  In a recent appeal decision in Milton Keynes district, the Inspector has gone even further, and concluded:

"From my visit it is clear that although only the northern part of the site contains development, the paddocks that extends to the south is part of the use of the site for equestrian purposes. I find this to be an integral part of the site that is within the curtilage of the manege and stable building. Thus, the site is considered previously developed land."

Annex 2 clearly identifies that PDL is:

“land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land (although it should not be assumed that the whole of the curtilage should be developed) and any associated fixed surface structure."

Has the Inspector gone beyond what was originally intended?  It is going to be interesting to see what happens next.