Housing minister Dominic Raab has announced changes to permitted development rights that mean up to five houses can be created from existing agricultural buildings on a farm, rather than the current maximum of three. Changes to permitted development rights came into effect on the 6th April 2018.
The idea of the changes are to help rural communities make the best use of existing buildings to meet local housing needs more efficiently. They will also make sure that any developments are in accordance with with the character of the area.
The new measures will also help farmers to adopt the latest innovations in modern farming practices by increasing the size limit of new agricultural buildings on larger farms from 465 square metres to 1,000 square metres.
Permitted development rights are a national grant of planning permission which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application.
The rights are subject to conditions and limitations to control impact and to protect local amenity.
The amended development right for the change of use of agricultural buildings to provide up to 5 new homes will allow for:
up to 3 larger homes within a maximum of 465 square metres or
up to 5 smaller homes each no larger than 100 square metres or
a mix of both, within a total of no more than 5 homes, of which no more than 3 may be larger homes
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
For more information about change of use and permitted development, get in touch with the experts today, here at RPS Design Group