A Shropshire estate agent is highlighting new rules which make it easier to convert farm buildings into residential properties.
The Permitted Development (PD) changes are seen as hugely significant for rural landowners who are now able to generate some real value from their sites which may be lying idle.
Michael Nettleton, head of Land and Homes at Nock Deighton, which has offices across Shropshire and into Worcestershire, said the new rules mean it is now easier than ever to convert agricultural buildings, making it the ideal time to consider all options.
He said: “The changes mean you can now create up to five homes from existing agricultural buildings rather than the previous maximum of three. And crucially, there is no need to expressly apply for planning permission to carry out the work.
“As with all Permitted Development frameworks, there are some properties that are exempt and certain criteria that need to be met. For example, the barn must have been in existence on March 20, 2013 – barns built since can be converted into homes, but they must be used solely as agricultural buildings for at least a decade.
“In addition, the total floorspace of the barn to be converted must be no more than 465 square metres, and any development is subject to what’s known as the Prior Notification procedure.
“This is a very useful legal development for those people who have agricultural buildings but there is a good chance they may not be fully aware of the changes and what they mean.
“The extra new homes now permitted should be of significant financial benefit to any owner while dispensing with the need for planning permission in certain circumstances will speed the whole conversion process up.
“There are further changes to PD currently under review by the Government and it’s important to keep up to date with what they are and how they could make things even easier in terms of planning permissions if they are adopted into law.
“It’s important for anyone who owns a barn or outbuilding with the potential for development to get the right advice and find out exactly what options are available to them.
“Our team at Nock Deighton have handled a number of these enquiries recently and I feel people need to be aware of the changes, how they can find out if their site fits the bill and what it is likely to be worth.
“This is an ideal opportunity to reinvent agricultural property that is no longer used with the strong chance of boosting the value of the land as a result.”
Shropshire Live is regulated by 