Diversification Projects (Change of Use)

If you are thinking about diversifying into non-agricultural activities, you may well need planning permission for changing the use of land and buildings. You will also need planning permission if your plans involve significant building works.

National Planning Policy Guidance set out in PPS7 and PPG13 makes clear to local planning authorities that:

• they should take a positive approach to well-conceived farm diversification proposals for business purposes that are consistent in their scale with their rural location; and that,
  
• farm diversification proposals should not be rejected where they would give rise to only modest additional traffic and would not have significant impact on minor roads.
  

However, the guidance does not in anyway negate the need for each planning application to be considered on its own merits.