| Buildings
Regulations change is a positive development for
farmers
New planning regulations are being hailed as good news
for farmers, with development rules being brought in line
with previous building restrictions.
he change was
announced by
Housing Minister
Dominic Raab,
and means up to
five new homes (of
up to 100 square metres each) can
be created from existing
agricultural buildings on a farm,
rather than the maximum of three
currently permitted. The
recommended minimum size for a
three bedroom home is just over
90 square metres.
More significantly, it increases
the conversion area of current
agricultural buildings so that up to
three larger homes can be created
within agricultural buildings within
a maximum of 465 square metres.
It also allows a mix of both small
and large homes, of which no
more than three may be larger
homes.
Jonathan Lee, Senior Planning
Consultant at Hobbs Parker
Property Consultants, explained
the significance of this: “The
T
change removes an anomaly
many farmers have struggled with.
The previous maximum size of
agricultural buildings permitted
under the prior approval system
was 465 square metres, but
farmers were only allowed to
convert 450 to residential. This
additional 15 square metres may
not sound like much but it will
make a significant difference to the
potential of those buildings.
“This should help communities
to make the best use of existing
buildings to efficiently meet local
housing needs, while protecting
the character of an area.”
The limit on the size of new
agricultural buildings under the
prior approval system has also
increased, to 1,000 square metres,
or a little smaller than an Olympic
swimming pool.
Jonathan added: “This should
give farmers greater flexibility
when planning new agricultural
buildings, as it is more than
double the current floor space
36 | Farming Monthly | April 2018
limits. All of this is good news for
farmers and for their suppliers.”
The new regulations will come
into force in early April.
To find out more about the
possible impact of the new
regulations or how they could
affect development on your farm,
call Jonathan Lee on 01233
506201, email
[email protected],
or see www.hobbsparker.co.uk
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk