Now may be the time to put those old farm buildings to use as the Government is now urging councils in rural areas to consider changing their planning permission policies to allow the conversion of unused farm buildings for residential use, rather than insisting that they only be used as farm buildings.
This idea is part of the ‘Home on the Farm’ scheme, the aim of which is to turn unused farm buildings into affordable housing. It is hoped that this will help young families to remain in their local communities rather than having to move to cities to find housing, thus helping to support local economies in rural areas.
The administration said: “Planning authorities in rural areas with high demand for homes may want to consider amending their local planning policies to support the change of use of farm buildings to affordable homes where these are considered inappropriate for employment use, or take the need for affordable homes into account in assessing individual applications.”
The scheme was the idea of Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, and has already been supported by South Lakeland District Council. The Government now hopes to adopt the scheme nationally, and has provided an outline of it in its response to the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report into farming in England’s upland areas.
This article is intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. Newnham & Jordan Solicitors, in Wimborne Dorset, cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article or any external articles it may refer or link to. Photo courtesy of Ian Britton www.freefoto.com
