13 August 2013
The government is proposing to relax a whole series of planning rules to make it easier for people to convert buildings to housing in England. In particular, some complex plans to make it easier for redundant agricultural buildings to be converted will be of interest to people keen to renovate barns and the like.
Historically, it has been a challenge to gain planning permission for a redundant barn to be used for residential instead of agricultural purposes. And many have argued that such a rule should be made more flexible to encourage housing development and to promote better and more sustainable use of a property.
{TEASER}
The consultation document, ‘Greater flexibilities for change of use‘, details the potential for an existing agricultural building to change to residential use with the right to develop up to three individual homes. At present the proposal is to limit individual homes to no more than 150m2.
The need to relax such planning rules was highlighted in the National Self Build Association’s (NaSBA’s) ‘Action Plan to promote the growth of self build housing’ published in July 2011 (available to view HERE). NaSBA chair Ted Stevens said: “We called on the government to facilitate the conversion of redundant farm buildings into homes wherever possible. It’s encouraging to see that they are listening and reacting positively.”
Public views are being sought through the consultation process which ends on the 10th October 2013.
