Why new planning rules make it easier to build homes in rural Yorkshire - Sally Ormiston
For landowners and homeowners across Yorkshire, changes to planning could create new opportunities to build or convert homes in the countryside.
The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published last month, is one of the final pieces in a series of reforms designed primarily to increase housing delivery, and help the Government meet its target of 1.5m new homes.
While much of the focus is on accelerating volume housebuilding, the changes could also benefit people looking to develop a one-off home, convert a barn or farm building, or create a small residential scheme, providing new opportunities for homeowners. Across rural Yorkshire, there is a shortage of suitable housing but plenty of small sites and individual plots that could contribute to meeting housing need, which have, until now, been out of bounds in planning terms.
The changes to the NPPF mean that any new development within existing villages and towns is more likely to be supported in principle. Previously, planning policy restricted development to certain villages and prioritised brownfield land, but the new approach recognises that all settlements and previously undeveloped land can also have potential.
For Yorkshire homeowners, this could mean opportunities to develop larger gardens, infill sites, garages, replace an existing house with several homes, or bring underused buildings back into residential use.
It is not, however, open season for development. Planning permission will still be required, with issues including landscape impact, highways, drainage, neighbouring properties, green space and design, all remaining important considerations.
Outside established settlements, restrictions remain, but the revised NPPF provides greater support in some circumstances for the reuse, alteration or replacement of existing buildings, and development on previously developed land, particularly where sites are close to settlements or existing groups of houses.
This could be particularly relevant across Yorkshire, where former agricultural and commercial buildings are often part of the rural landscape and could offer opportunities for sensitive conversion.
The NPPF also places greater emphasis on sustainable design and gives substantial weight to climate-friendly approaches. This is relevant in rural areas, where energy infrastructure can be more challenging, and buildings need to respond sensitively to their surroundings.
Heritage remains important too. The policy recognises that carefully considered conversion of vacant or underused listed buildings can support their long-term survival, potentially bringing important Yorkshire buildings back into productive use.
For anyone in Yorkshire who owns a large garden, a redundant farm building, land within a village, a previously developed site, or has their eye on a plot for purchase, the changes could be a reason to revisit an opportunity. Every site will still need careful assessment, but for those dreaming of building a home or making better use of land or buildings they already own, now could be the time to explore what is possible.
Sally Ormiston is a director at Rural Solutions ruralsolutions.co.uk