If there’s no remaining sign on the ground of the previous cottages and scrapyard use, your plot might not be considered brownfield for planning purposes. So unless it’s within the development boundary of the village, as defined in the council’s planning policy documents, there might not be scope to build a house on it.
Any new building – even agricultural – would require planning permission as the site isn’t large enough for permitted development rights for new agricultural buildings to kick in. That said, a modest storage building, discretely sited, shouldn’t prove contentious. Local politics can prove influential on planning application decisions so ensure neighbours are happy with your proposals. Note that use of land for agriculture doesn’t require planning permission. Genuine mobile structures, such as mobile stables or a mess-room caravan, won’t need permission either, provided there is an agricultural use existing at the time they’re located on the site.