Permitted Development

[jazzyjust]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask for views but here goes.

My mother owns and lives on some property made up of a bungalow with gardens, defunct lorry yard (2 former tin and stick barns and 2 stone built stables / sheds converted to tool sheds, garages etc) and a field. The property was used for agriculture before becoming a lorry yard but has now returned to agricultural / small holding use. It is situated just outside of a settlement boundary in the countryside.

She is fast approaching retirement and has little or no pension and doesn't want to sell up / leave her home as its been in her family since ww1.

Is there any way she can convert the redundant buildings to rentable accommodation?

I've read quite a bit about permitted development etc but its all a bit confusing and if we get our local planning office involved then they are likely to just say no - it's what they do where she lives!

Any pointers very appreciated

 

[taz123]

I don't have too much experience in this field so cannot give you the info you request but this example shows you what your mum may face.

We applied for permission to convert a barn and all seemed very straight forward as many in the area had successfully gained permission.

The farm had been home to a company delivering potatoes up and down the region with 8 lorries in the fleet for years.

We were refused permission as the exit/entrance(same as the lorries had used) to the property was on a main road and this was deemed unacceptable and dangerous.

Bureaucracy varies from authority to authority but red tape surrounding agricultural dwelling/land seems to be far from straightforward.

Good luck to your mum.

 

[jeds]

There's usually a fair chance of converting redundant buildings to accommodation but you would need to apply for planning permission. It is not permitted development.

What part of the Country are you in?

 

[richardrich79]

If the property is a smallholding and the outbuildings are for agricultural use she may be able to diversify and go down the 'Farm Cottage' holiday rental route. It rather depends where abouts you are.

 

[cjard]

Nothing stopping you writing to your planning department and asking for some guidance. The response might take a while but it will be free. Maybe there is some commercial enterprise locally that will rent the buildings as they are, or their current designation can be changed to something like storage without needing planning and then she can store stuff for people. Much easier than dealing with actual human beings