12 March 2014
The recently announced relaxations to the planning system that will permit farm buildings to be converted to residential use may not apply to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) (click here to read more). Planning Minister Nick Boles has indicated that when the new permitted development rights come into force in a few weeks times he may attach some limitations for those parts of the UK considered to have high scenic value.
{TEASER}
Boles recently told fellow MPs that while he could not anticipate the Government’s final position, he could reassure them that he had heard their arguments “loud and clear”. Rural campaigners, including several Conservative MPs with rural seats, have been concerned at the prospect of a wave of inappropriate conversions that the new development rights could introduce.
Farm owners with suitable barns and agricultural buildings should be granted the new development rights in the next month or so. The proposals allow for redundant agricultural buildings to be converted into a maximum of three additional dwellings, with a size limit imposed of 150m2 for a single house. The proposals also suggest that complete demolition and rebuilding could be permitted on the original building footprint.
Prior approval will be required from each local planning authority, but outright objections would only be allowed on grounds of highways impact, noise impact, land contamination or flooding risk.
One suggestion for National Parks and AONBs that the Government might look at, Boles hinted, would be to allow planners in designated areas to decide applications on a case-by-case basis.
The Minister also told MPs that even if the new permitted developments are not automatically applied in National Parks and AONBs, he would still be encouraging planners to be positive about proposals for the conversion of redundant buildings.
Further details of the many changes to the planning system and the new guidance on the implementation on the National Planning Policy Framework can be found here http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/
