The Defra Secretary of State, The Rt. Hon Steve Barclay MP, has used a letter to farmers issued after he addressed the Oxford Farming Conference earlier today to hint that the Government may be intending to implement some or all of the changes to Class Q and Class R permitted development rights that it consulted on last year.
In the letter, Mr Barclay says “we are expanding permitted development rights, which will allow government to grant planning permission in advance for some types of farm building development. This will include changing agricultural buildings to homes and shops or allowing more buildings and building extensions for agriculture use.”
Also published today was the Secretary of State’s Agricultural Transition Plan update January 2024. This refers to the 2023 consultation and says that “responses to the consultation are currently being analysed.”
All tantalising stuff, of course, but light on detail and the timing of any changes.
We are watching this closely and will provide an update as more information emerges.
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