[naturescenter]

Hi all!
          I'm a soon to be qualified Biodynamic farmer and very keen to set up my own small holding. I'd like to set up a new farm and apply for planning permision to live there, its the only realistic way i could afford it. I'm looking around at certain bits of land but realise there must be certain land in ceratin areas more likely to be granted planning than others? I do realise we need to prove we have a successful venture first! Does anyone have any planning knowledge, experience? would be great to hear from you!
Thanks Nick

[northfifeduckling]

I suppose it's handled differently from Council to Council. whereabouts do you live?

[HappyHippy]

Good luck with that 
Check out some of the old posts on planning in the coffee lounge.
I'd ring your local council and speak to a planner BEFORE you even look at land, I really don't want to sound negative but it's generally REALLY difficult to get planning for a new build in green belt land. We tried for 6 years to get planning permission to replace an old outbuilding with a house in order to grow our family farm - after jumping through MANY hoops and parting with lots of cash - we gave up.
But don't let that put you off, maybe your planners are different ?

[ballingall]

It could be tricky. Most planning permissions are tough to do as an individual. Builders and development companies however always seem to get the permission they want.

I would say, do as much research as you possibly can. One way to get round it is to state it is essential to your farm that you live on the premises. But be aware, planners don't consider you needing to be there for livestock as being essential to your farm/business. You would have a better chance of buying someplace with an extremely derelict house that you claim to replace.

Beth

[sellickbhoy]

get alpacas in - that'll do the trick!!! 

[naturescenter]

Hi all and thanks for your feedback i'm in Sussex but looking in Kent too. Speaking to planners first is a good idea...al

get alpacas in - that'll do the trick!!! 

  thats interesting sellickbhoy have yuo heard of that working before?

[sellickbhoy]

yeah, there have been a few high profile cases of it - lots of NIMBY behaviour from the villagers as they saw it as a "white settler" taking over some land and bulding on it - and they never got to!!

i believe there might even be a course somewhere by alpaca "farmers" on just how to get your land, run the alpaca business and then get your planning permission

if i get some time i'll google it - but i'm in the middle of my own project that may or may not need planning permission!! 

[northfifeduckling]

someone tried the opposite through keeping his ducks (as in livestock)  on some land he wanted to prevent from being built on..didn't work (after a short time they moved to our garden instead and the planning went ahead).

[rustyme]

wasn't there a thing a while ago , involving mushroom growing to get planning permission ?
I reckon everyone who works in a planing department should shred all planning papers and format all computer hard drives . Problem solved !!!! Viva la revolution .

cheers

Russ

[HappyHippy]

Sorry to be soooo cinical, but IMO the only thing guarenteed to get you permission is a big wad of cash to the right planning officer 

[sellickbhoy]

even that won't work, some of them are so officious and stuck up their own jacksie, they'd have the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal pulled down if they could

[Rosemary]

We had a really interesting presentation by a planning consultant at our last CSSA meeting. There is a presumption against development on agricultural land or green belt, which is some ways is a good thing, otherwise we'd have houses springing up on any field along the roadside, bit like Eire.

[northfifeduckling]

it does help if you know someone in the right place, who can put a word in...

[JulieS]

When we were looking for houses we came across a new build which we were amazed had been permitted to be built.
The owner said it had taken nearly 20 years for him to get permission for the house with Agricultural Tie.

He owned the land and lived in a house which was on one side of it.  Subsequently he split the land in two and sold the half with the house on and moved into a static caravan on the other half (where the new house is now).  It took him lots of money and 5 years to get permission for the static caravan.

He then started up a 'nursery' to justify having the static caravan on site.  Apparently he had to pay to get a report/survey done to prove the number of plants he had needed constant attention etc.

After some years of having the static caravan (having to reapply each year for planning permission) he then started applying to build a house there.

So lots of time, money and locals and the council being against him he managed to get the house built.  During that time always 'fighting' against the planning enforcement system.

So it is possible...eventually.  But at what cost emotionally and physically?  He's now selling the house because he can't cope with the land/nursery business anymore.


He's not selling the house because he can't

[smiffy]

fish farming is a good one