farm planning

85 per cent of respondents in a CLA survey said the planning system has hampered the growth of their business

Patience and perseverance have finally paid off for tenant farmer Ralph Raynor in his quest to convert three redundant buildings into residential homes under Class Q Permitted Development rights.

For many farming families, a successful diversification can mean the difference between staying in the black and falling into the red. But achieving this success can often be frustrated by costly planning challenges. Shannon Fuller, Planning Advisor with the CLA, highlights the key considerations.

The Government is extending permitted development rights to give farmers greater freedoms to diversify and convert agricultural buildings for commercial uses

Lower Pertwood Farm is a 2,800 acre arable unit in Hindon, Wiltshire

Diversification has been highlighted as an important part of family farms being fit for the future, but planning permission has been a stumbling block for many

More than half of farmers still do not have a succession plan, with ongoing uncertainty hampering efforts to ‘proper plans'

Farmers need to ask themselves where they want their business to be in 10 years’ time if they wanted to take control and manage change before it manages them.