Dear Followers
As you are aware at Ryland Design we are an award winning Architecture and Planning Practise that have recently had a great deal of success in obtaining planning permissions for farmers and land owners to convert redundant farm buildings, either traditional brick built barns or even asbestos portal framed buildings to dwellings.
In April 2014 the Government created a new permitted development order which was intended to allow the conversion of farm buildings into new dwellings which was intended to increase the amount of new housing in rural communities by conversion of under used or redundant farm buildings. There are of course some hurdles to jump through; however, in essence the conversion of redundant farm buildings to dwelling is now permitted development. After years of land owners fighting the council to have redundant farm buildings converted to dwelling even for family members, this is a complete turnaround.
Planning permission can normally be gained within 56 days of the application to the council.
Yes, an application is still required; however, the presumption is now in favour of approval providing the criteria can be met.
The key points are:-
· Cumulative maximum area that may be converted is 450m² comprising up to 3 dwellings.
· Agricultural buildings for conversion must have been used for agricultural as part of an established agricultural unit on or before the 20 March 2013.
· Conversion may involve partial demolition, however it is envisaged that the floor dimensions of any areas re-built is the same as the original.
· Work must commence within 3 years of an approval.
In general this new permitted development order will allow farmers and land owners to no longer suffer the cost for maintaining buildings that have no use and instead are in the position to obtain planning permission to either sell off the barns with planning permission to raise capital or indeed develop and let the properties to keep control of buildings within farm complexes.
Over the last 6 months as a practise, we have secured the planning permission for 9 properties in the open countryside and have planning applications to submit over the coming months for commissions we have already received.
Should you wish to know more about the policies and the way to achieve planning permission we will of course arrange a site visit to look at the buildings, you have in mind and advise you of fees and the application process in detail, and provide you with a written quotation at the outset to ensure that you are fully aware of the development process and likely costs.
We look forward, in anticipation on discussing this further with you.
