Coalition set to relax rules on barn conversions

From +Planning  Monday, 23 May 2011

"Rural landowners have welcomed government moves to ease planning restrictions preventing disused farm buildings from being converted into affordable housing.

The relaxation is signalled in this month's government response to the Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee's February report on farming in the uplands.

The response invites authorities facing rural housing shortages "to consider amending their local planning policies to support the change of use of farm buildings to affordable homes where these are considered inappropriate for employment use, or take the need for affordable homes into account in assessing individual applications".

William Worsley, president of landowners' lobby group the Country Land and Business Association, welcomed the move. However, he added: "It is a great pity the Government does not yet recognise the need for new-build housing on upland farms." This is often a cheaper option than converting disused barns, he said.

But Ian Woodhurst, senior farming campaigner at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "Any conversion should be done sensitively. We don't want to see suburban designs in the middle of upland landscapes."

In their response, ministers also promise a rural policy statement before the Parliamentary summer recess".

Comment: There is an important word in the midst of all this that bears consideration and that is 'affordable'. 

Just how will a single barn conversion be of interest to a Housing Association or local Housing Trust who are tasked with delivering 'affordable housing'? I doubt any current affordable housing providers property criteria could be achieved and management of a remote single unit is just not practicable. I rather think the Government have a broader agenda or, alternatively are yet again playing to the crowd.  Perhaps we are seeing a change in interpretation of that particular planning word than has been the case in the last decade or so.

Perhaps the Rural Policy Statement will shed some further light.