Government to allow more homes to be created from agricultural buildings

The Government is to change the number of homes that can be created under permitted development rights from existing agricultural buildings on a farm.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government claimed the changes would “help communities make the best use of existing buildings to help meet local housing needs more efficiently, while at the same time ensuring they remain in keeping with the character of the area and safeguard people’s privacy”.

The amended development right for the change of use of agricultural buildings to provide up to five 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

The ministry added that the government would also:

• give applicants an extra year (until 10 June 2019) to convert further storage and distribution buildings into new homes.
• increase the size limit of new agricultural buildings on larger farms from 465 square metres to 1,000 square metres.

Housing Minister Dominic Raab said: “We need to be more creative if we are to meet the housing needs of rural communities.

“That’s why I’m changing planning rules so rural communities have more flexibility on how best to use existing buildings to deliver more much needed homes for families.”

The regulations will come into force on 6 April.