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Q&As
Using Permitted Development for an Agricultural Conversion
Hi
I have an agricultural barn/building that wasn't used for agriculture on March 2013 so I cannot convert it to a residential dwelling under permitted development (cost me £266 to find that out from a planning consultant although google gives the same info!).
What has recently been brought to my attention is a storage facility (class B8) can be converted under permitted development although I am sure there are lots of gotchas. The building was being used for storage in March 2014 so seems to tick that box albeit just for storage of items related to our primary business of holiday cottages.
It's a large area easily big enough for a four bed home. Is this worth pursuing or just give up now? Any no win no fee planning consultants out there?
One Answer
You indicate that the storage use is in connection with a primary use involving holiday cottages. There is therefore a preliminary question to address which is whether the use is a stand-alone class B8 use, or an ancillary use.
If the latter, the permitted development right to convert would not apply. It would be sensible to seek pre-application advice from your council, when these matters can be thrashed out.
On the question of ‘no fee, no win’ planning consultants, bear in mind that at appeal a consultant is acting as an expert witness and should not be on a no win, no fee basis. Lawyers acting as advocates are not restricted in that way as they’re there to spin the evidence, as opposed to producing the evidence in the first place.
– Mike Dade, Build It Planning Expert