Change of use of agricultural buildings to a flexible commercial use

Permitted development rights have been introduced under Part 3 Class R of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 2015 to allow the change of use of existing agricultural buildings not exceeding 500 square metres of floor space to a flexible use falling within classes B8 (storage or distribution), Class C1 (hotels) or Class E (commercial, business and service).

For these permitted development rights to apply:

• The building concerned must not be a listed building or a scheduled monument. 
• The buildings must be solely in agricultural use since 3 July 2012 or if the use began later than that date, for a period of at least 10 years.

Where the cumulative floorspace of the building to be changed exceeds 150 square metres but not 500 square metres, the developer must notify the Council that they wish to change the use of the building to one of the flexible uses identified above and provide the following details:

1. A written description of the proposal 
2. A plan indicating the site and showing the proposed development 
3. A contact address for the applicant 
4. An email address if the applicant is happy to receive correspondence by email.

The fee payable is £96.

However, no fee will be payable where an application for planning permission relating to development of the same buildings or land is submitted at the same time as the prior notification application, by or on behalf of the same applicant.

Notifications should be sent to the address on this page.

Please note that the Council require the submission of additional information reasonably required to determine the application including assessments of risks or impacts, statements setting out how risks are to be mitigated or details of the proposed operational development.

Application form

Apply via the Planning Portal