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Submit plansI have a dream of building a 3 bedroom bungalow to Passivhaus standard and planting a broadleaf woodland around it. To do this I need to find a sizeable parcel of land (ideally 20 acres or more). Any suitable land will be in the countryside, outside of any planning boundaries. The creation of a woodland would generate a significant net biodiversity gain. If I were to buy a parcel of pasture land would I stand any chance of getting planning permission? Could I argue the bungalow was necessary so that I could live on site to tend to the woodland?
Building in open countryside is very difficult indeed. One exception made to the general approach of resisting housing in such areas is where a house is needed to serve a rural business. I rather doubt that tending 20 acres of woodland would be considered an adequate justification for a dwelling, although occasionally such permissions are granted where an individual is making a living from the woodland. Another route is the exemplary architecture exception, where not only do you have to have a truly exceptional design, but also enhancement of the surroundings. Arguably your extensive woodland idea could fulfil this second criterion.