Redundant farm buildings may help combat rural homes blight

The Government could be set to ease restrictions to make it easier for people to find rural housing following recommendations by the influential Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee.

Rural business leaders claimed victory following the announcement with bosses at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) saying that their lobbying activity has helped shape the Government’s decision.

The CLA’s president and Yorkshire landowner, William Worsley, said: “It is good news the Government has given the green light to easing planning restrictions in the more remote rural areas by reusing redundant farm buildings as homes for retiring farmers and farm workers.

“The CLA persuaded the Efra Committee to remove these restrictions and about the need for more affordable housing in the uplands and national parks.”

However, Mr Worsley said that the Government was still failing to recognise the need for new-build houses on upland farms.

“Converting redundant farm buildings into a dwelling is a very expensive option that many hill farmers will not be able to afford,” he said. “Building a new house is often less costly. The CLA hopes to see more flexibility in the forthcoming draft of the National Planning Policy Framework when it comes to housing of all types in rural areas.”

Mr Worsley added he is keen to see the countryside policy statement from the Government’s Rural Affairs and Communities team, due before the summer parliamentary recess.

The Efra report states that it is “essential” that the Government’s national planning framework include policies to mitigate the problems of lack of affordable housing in rural areas.

It states: “We recommend that Defra works across Government to ensure that the national planning framework has a flexible and less restrictive approach to housing in rural areas.

“The planning framework should enable local communities to seek innovative and cost-effective solutions to the problem of affordable housing in rural areas.”

The findings were welcomed by Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith, who said: “It is a positive response from the Government, we need to ensure that empty buildings are used– there are hundreds if not thousands across my constituency.

“It is right to encourage planning authorities to look at the issue of how best to use these buildings.”

A Government spokesman said they were grateful to the committee for its recognition of the economic and social challenges faced by hill farmers and wider upland communities.

In their response to the report, it states: “The English uplands are nationally and internationally important for the value of their landscapes, biodiversity, agriculture, recreational opportunities, archaeology, and cultural and natural resources.

“The uplands face all the challenges that characterise much of rural England, such as a lack of ready access to services, including transport and broadband, and affordability of housing and energy.

“The Government has recently completed a review of policy affecting the uplands in order to identify the framework conditions which will enable the English uplands to become more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

“This landmark statement sets a new course for the Government’s approach.”