Build new Agricultural Dwellings

Planning permission is always required for dwellings. In the open countryside away from existing settlements, or areas designated for development, planning permission is normally granted only in exceptional circumstances, for example, if it is essential for a farm worker to live at or in the immediate vicinity of the workplace in order to attend to livestock. If permission is granted in such circumstances, it is usually conditional on the dwelling being kept available to meet that agricultural need. Occupancy will therefore be restricted to people solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture.

When granting planning permission for a new agricultural dwelling subject to an occupancy condition, local planning authorities may also attach similar conditions to existing dwellings on the holding which are under the control of the applicant, do not have occupancy conditions and need at the time of the application to be used in connection with the farm.

These conditions can be lifted if circumstances change, but planning authorities need to be certain that there is no longer any agricultural need in the locality.