[Solexious]

I think this is the right place rather than the planning forum.

Our new smallholding has ~7 acres of fields, from what we can tell they have been rented out in the past to farmers to graze sheep. Some parts were used for pig keeping a long time ago. Some hay farming has been done, I think mostly for the 3 stable stalls.

If I was planning to build a building on them, I would look at planning regulations. But for just generally using the fields for smallholding things, where should I look to learn what we are/aren't allowed to do with the land?

Is it "you can do what you want unless there is a rule saying no", or more "you can only do things if its on the allowed list"?

Sorry if this is a bit of a vague open ended question! Just want to avoid getting in trouble.

Sol

[Backinwellies]

   it is agricultural land so grazing farm animals is fine.   Growing crops is fine (if land suitable).     Anything else would need change of use .... including just horses, or large scale horticulture.
 Planning required for most buildings (including large sheds) .   

[Bywaters]

in England, there are "permitted development" rights for a small holding of 5ha+

You can rent more land to get it up to the 5 but it has to be a registered agri holding

You can, subject to Planning approval of said permiteed development, build livestock shelters. machinery stores . lambing sheds and the like NOT stables as horses are not agricultural

[Solexious]

Thank you both.

There are stables, but I have a feeling the previous owners (sadly passed away so I can't ask them questions about previous use) were more of the "use it and wait to see if anyone notices" people. So it might have had some of the smaller fields used for paddocks.

How would I find out definitively what bit of land is classified as what use?

Would you know of any links to government websites etc of the rules on the land use? I've had a search, but only keep coming up with a recent study by the gov into how much of the UK's land is agri, not details on allowed usage.

And I suppose a direct example of things I'm thinking about, with growing crops on the land, do you know if I'm allowed to grow crops in raised beds rather than directly into the ground? (for what its worth, this isn't me thinking about renting out the land as allotments, it would only be us using the raised beds)

Ta

[Bywaters]

There are few regulations on land use, however, you might want to check on the land classification by the Local Authority but again there aren't many classifications, it's either garden or green belt or designated building land.
If you get a County Parish Holding number ( contact the Rural Payments Agency for this), that should get it classed as agricultural, and you will be able to rear livestock, grow crops and the like.
I don't believe that how you grow crops is taken into account (raised beds for example)

I hope that assists

ps, I am referring to English not Scottish situation

[Solexious]

Oh interesting, thanks for the pointers.

Ah yes, I should have mentioned we are in Shrewsbury, so just over the border in England.

Not to stray too far off topic, but you mentioning about the County Parish Holding Number, is there a "things to do when starting/restarting a smallholding" list around?

Thanks!

[doganjo]

Oh interesting, thanks for the pointers.

Ah yes, I should have mentioned we are in Shrewsbury, so just over the border in England.

Not to stray too far off topic, but you mentioning about the County Parish Holding Number, is there a "things to do when starting/restarting a smallholding" list around?

Thanks!

  This might be useful - https://letsgrowwild.uk/starting-a-smallholding/