Sunday 8 March 2015

Relaxed Permitted Development Rights for Barn Conversions

Information taken from www.Homebuilding.co.uk

Contact steve@kent-build.co.uk for more information and help with your Barn Conversion.

Amendments to Permitted Development (PD) Rights introduced in early April have transformed the landscape for anyone wishing to undertake barn conversion in England (not applicable to the rest of the United Kingdom as it currently stands).

What has Changed?
As a result of the amendment, it will now be possible to convert an existing agricultural building – barns – into homes without needing to expressly apply for planning permission, as had previously been the case.
Permitted Development Rights allow homeowners to carry out building work to their homes without needing to apply for planning permission from their local authority and have traditionally been used to enable minor extensions, loft conversions and outbuildings to be carried out without the need for notification.

What are the Details?
The Barn Conversion clause comes about as part of a new Class – MB – into Part 3 of the Second Schedule of the General Permitted Development Order. This new class authorises change of use of a building and any land within its curtilage from use as an agricultural building to a use falling within Class C3 – dwellings. It also authorises building operations 'reasonably' necessary to convert the building to residential use.
The site must have been used solely for agricultural use.
The barn must have existed on by 20th March 2013 (no building new barns!). 
New barns can be built and converted into homes but must exist as solely agricultural
buildings for at least 10 years.
The total floorspace of your barn to be converted must be no more than 450m² – if the barn
is bigger, you'll only be able to convert to a maximum of 450m².
The 450m² can be divided into three separate dwellings. If the site is subject to an
agricultural tenancy, landowners must have the express consent of their tenants.

How Much Can You Rebuild?
Class MB permits reasonable building operations to convert a barn into a house, but only within the envelope of the existing structure. It permits partial demolition and rebuilding of the barn, but the extent of this allowance will probably be decided by case law.
Most experts believe it unlikely that flimsy Dutch barns or glasshouses could be simply knocked down and replaced with a new house (even if it were to mimic the appearance of the existing) although this is something that will be established as homeowners and local authorities dispute the detail.
However, significant improvement to the existing fabric, including new windows, even new walls as required, will be permitted under MB.
Are There any Exclusions?
Class MB – the barn conversion clause – doesn't apply on any site within so-called Article 1(5) land, i.e. National Parks, Conservation Areas, etc.)

What do I Need to do Before I Convert my Barn?
As is increasingly the case with the more controversial elements of Permitted Development, Class MB is subject to what's known as a Prior Notification procedure.
Before starting, the converter must apply to the local authority to establish whether they will need to receive prior approval (!) for:
Transport - Noise impact - Contamination - Flood risk - 
and 'Whether the location or siting of the building makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable for the building to change from agricultural use to residential use.'
As you can see, this does give the local authority power to veto the development (although their decision must comply with the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework). In many ways, this makes the Prior Notification process within PD a planning application by another name.
Again, such is the freshness of the amendment that it's difficult to gauge the impact of this clause; however, as barns are often in isolated rural areas, one can imagine the issues of sustainability being raised as a potential objection by local authorities.
Likewise, prior notification is also required for the local authority to decide whether they need to have prior approval on the design and external appearance of the building. Again, any decision must be met within the context of the NPPF, but it's not too difficult to conclude that this is just another form of planning application. Under the Prior Notification procedure, the local authority does have the right to impose conditions on the development. 
- See more at: http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/existing-homes/converting-barn/permitted-development#sthash.UgiU9kEc.dpuf