Wiltshire farmers with redundant buildings are on track to gain the right to convert them for residential use.

Following national consultation, Planning Minister Nick Boles has just announced that from April 1 farmers will be granted permitted development rights to convert redundant farm buildings of up to 450 sq m to create up to three residential units.

Phillip Nicholson, a Marlborough-based partner at national property consultancy Carter Jonas, believes that farmers will welcome the initiative although there are exclusions from automatic development rights for certain classes of buildings, including those in areas of outstanding natural beauty and within national parks.

“There have been objections to permitted development rights and some pressure groups such as the CPRE have come out against blanket permission as it could allow speculative development,” said Mr Nicholson.

“The change gives farmers and landowners potential alternative income sources or opportunities to release capital from disposals to develop and diversify their rural business coupled with the possibility of rural employment generation.

“To date, the planning system has been frighteningly expensive, long-winded, and difficult to negotiate, which puts off many farmers before they even start to consider sustainability issues in their local economy or environment.

"This simpler route into assessing a building’s potential for residential use should provide a much more flexible and sensible system.

"Alongside the associated commercial permitted development rights brought in last year this will allow farmers to properly consider the application of capital within their businesses.

“There are also clear personal advantages for many farming families in being able to change the use of buildings that no longer fit modern farming practice.

“While there has been concern about speculative converting old buildings in beautiful places it would be hard to deny them permission, even in sensitive areas, when the conversion allows family members to stay connected with the farm as it passes down the generations.

“There are strict rules for inheritance tax purposes about where the person running the farm lives and this makes some older farmers reluctant to retire as it can mean they have to leave the farmhouse.

"This transition could be far easier if they only move across the farmyard or down the lane to a redundant building they have converted.

"It could be a powerful argument for approval and succession within a business even in areas of outstanding natural beauty or national parks.”

For more information, contact Phillip Nicholson on 01672 514916 or email phillip.nicholson@carterjonas.co.uk