Open Air Business February 2017

INDUSTRY TALK
sites forming a military explosives
storage area; or a site forming a
safety hazard area. In addition,
these rights do not include
work associated with building
operations, i.e. any physical
alterations to the building for
window or door openings, so
a planning application will be
required for these building
operations.
The maximum cumulative floor
space that may be converted
under this permitted development
right is 500m2 of floor space of
a building or buildings within a
single established agricultural
unit.
Development is only permitted
subject to prior approval from
your Local Planning Authority.
Development can commence if
your Local Planning Authority
provides a written notice giving
prior approval or outlining that
prior approval is not needed; or
the local planning authority does
not provide a written notice before
the 56-day time limit expires from
the receipt of the application.
TEMPORARY CHANGES OF
USE OF LAND
Class B of Part 3 of the 2015 GPDO
permits the use of any land for
any purpose for not more than 28
days, unless it relates to a market
(car boot) or motor car/motorcycle
racing, which cannot exceed 14
days. The provision also includes
any moveable structure for
the purposes of the permitted
use. Be aware that the 28 days
includes any days that moveable
structures are left on the land
and are not taken down.
PLANNING PERMISSION
If the development does not
fall within your permitted
development rights, then
planning permission will be
required from your local planning
authority. In this respect, a
planning application will need to
be submitted and the authority
will determine whether or not
planning permission should be
granted, having regard to the
Development Plan and material
considerations relevant to your
proposals.
Before submitting your
planning application, there
are some key questions to ask
yourself to help inform your
proposals:
What are the local planning
policies applicable to my site
and proposals?
Each Local Planning Authority
will have a Development Plan
that can include a number
of documents including a
Local Plan, Proposals Map,
Development Management
Policies Development Plan,
GETTY IMAGES
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Marie Stacey is
a senior planner
at Pegasus
Group, a leading
independent
national planning
consultancy
specialising in town,
environmental
and commercial
planning; urban
and landscape
design; and public
engagement.
Marie has provided
planning advice
to a range of
clients including
various country
estates, farmers,
landowners,
commercial
businesses and
housebuilders.
She has assisted
clients through
the planning
process and
gained planning
permission for
a variety of
developments
comprising farm
diversification
projects, renewable
energy, countryside
pursuits and
housing. www.
pegasuspg.co.uk
Document and Neighbourhood
Plan. These documents will
contain information relating to the
planning policies and designations
that will be applicable to your site
and proposals.
As the Local Planning
Authority will have to refer to
the Development Plan when
determining your application,
it is essential that you carefully
consider these documents to
ensure that your development
complies with the relevant
policies.
Is my site within a designated
area for its landscape, ecological
or heritage value?
Designated areas such as Areas
of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
National Parks, Conservation
Areas, or Sites of Special Scientific
Interest will not necessary prohibit
your development obtaining
planning permission however,
careful consideration will need
to be had to the siting of your
development and the potential
effects your development will have
on these designations.
Does my site have appropriate
vehicular access?
The highways impact associated
with your development will need
to be evaluated to assess the
effects of the additional increase
in traffic and whether the visibility
onto the highway is sufficient.
Is the development close to any
neighbours?
The residential amenity of any
neighbours will need to be
considered particularly in respect
of noise however, these can
usually be avoided through careful
siting.
There are many considerations
that can be material to your
proposals and therefore engaging
with your Local Planning Authority
from the outset will help to
smooth out any potential issues
and define what it would require
to support your application. Some
planning authorities still operate a
free pre-application advice service
but, even so, if there is a charge
then it is usually nominal and
money well spent. If in doubt, a
planning consultant will be able
to advise and manage the process
for you.
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