Farmers will be able to convert their unused buildings into new
homes and shops thanks to new planning laws coming into effect
today.
The major changes give farmers across England greater freedoms to
diversify and grow their business, without having to spend time
and money submitting a planning application.
They will be able to convert agricultural buildings and land into
new lucrative business opportunities, such as outdoor sports
facilities, larger farm shops and farm training centres, as well
as housing, thanks to the changes to permitted development rights
coming in today.
These new powers come in a week after the Farm to Fork Summit,
where the Prime Minister reiterated the Government's commitment
to backing farmers who keep this country fed. The changes coming
into force will give them new freedoms to diversify if they
choose to.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety said:
“Farmers are the lifeblood of communities, and these changes give
them the freedom to grow their businesses, and plan for their
futures.
“This is all part of our Long-term Plan for Housing to deliver
more homes for rural communities and reform the planning system,
removing unnecessary barriers to development.”
Farming Minister
said:
"I am extremely pleased to support our farmers and provide them
the freedom to decide the best uses for buildings on their land,
without needless bureaucracy holding them back.
“We are listening to farmers and putting them at the heart of
future development of our rural areas. Helping farmers secure
their businesses and get on with the important job of producing
food is our top priority."
Permitted development rights provide more freedoms to develop
without applying for planning permission.
From today, the Government is extending these rights to give
farmers greater freedoms to diversify and convert agricultural
buildings to commercial uses, as well as up to 10 homes, without
needing to submit a planning application. These rules are subject
to space and natural light conditions, to ensure homes are
suitable. This will help turbocharge rural housing development,
with just 5,000 homes delivered on farming land since April
2014*.
The changes will:
- Double the amount of floorspace that can change from
agricultural to ‘flexible commercial use' from 500 square metres
to 1,000 square metres.
- Increase the size of new buildings or extensions that can be
built on farms over 5 hectares from 1,000 square metres to 1,500
square metres.
- For smaller farms increase the size of such development from
1,000 square metres to 1,250 square metres.
- Double the number of homes that can be delivered through the
conversion of agricultural buildings from five to 10.
- Protect nationally important archaeological sites (scheduled
monuments) by removing the ability for extensions to be built and
new buildings erected in the vicinity.
The amendments deliver on one of the pledges made by the Prime
Minister at the Farm to Fork Summit in May last year, to cut red
tape and streamline the planning system for farmers, as well as
support the wider rural economy.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- *Around 5,000 homes were delivered
between April 2014 and March 2023 under the change of use of
agricultural building to residential (Class Q) permitted
development right.
- Overall, PDRs have delivered just
under 104,000 homes to rent or buy since March 2015 and amending
these rights will build on our long-term plan for housing to
deliver even more homes for rural communities.
