Planning Opportunities for Farm Buildings

GEPP

22 March 2018

By Keri Constantatou

In a recent article published by Whirledge & Nott they reported that The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced changes to permitted development rights for agricultural buildings which will come into force on 6 April 2018.

The new measures will help farmers adopt the latest innovations in modern farming practices by increasing the size limit of new agricultural buildings on larger farms from  465 sq.m to 1,000 sq.m.

Changes to permitted development rights will mean up to 5 new homes can be created from existing agricultural buildings on a farm rather than the maximum of 3 currently permitted.  An amended development right for the conversion of agricultural buildings to residential could allow:

Up to 3 homes of up to 465 sq.m each, or

Up to 5 homes of up to 100 sq.m each, or

A mix of larger and smaller homes, up to a maximum of 5 units with a maximum of 3 larger homes (maximum 465 sq.m each)

To further support housing delivery, applicants will have a further year in which to benefit from the temporary permitted development right for the change of use of buildings used for storage and distribution to residential use.  The right will be extended by a year until 10 June 2019

The regulations which will bring these changes into effect are expected to be published shortly.

Edward Worthy and his agricultural law team would be pleased to hear from you with any farming related queries on 01245 493939 or worthye@gepp.co.uk

This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.