Shropshire firm welcomes relaxation of rules on agricultural homes
Relaxation of rules governing the lifting of agricultural occupancy conditions on properties linked to farms in Shropshire has been welcomed by leading county firm Halls.
Shaun Jones, a rural director with Halls’ professional department in Shrewsbury, says Shropshire Council had recognised that a stringent revision to policy introduced in April was not effective.
The council had insisted that owners applying to lift an agricultural occupancy condition should pay 40 per cent of the property’s value.
As a result of a policy review, applicants now have to make a payment, based upon floor area, towards affordable housing to a maximum of £11,700 to lift the condition from a property. Applicants must also carry out a 12-month marketing exercise to prove that there is no demand in their locality for accommodation for farm workers.
“The policy introduced by Shropshire Council in April was so stringent that no one would have wasted the time and money applying for an agricultural occupancy to be lifted,” said Mr Jones. “It was a crazy policy that was totally unattractive to property owners.
“Credit to the council for recognising that it was an unsuccessful policy that was not going to work. The council is keen to see that a robust marketing exercise is carried out.”
He also advised landowners that the council’s door is still open to genuine planning applications for the building of agricultural or affordable dwellings on land for a family member or farm worker.
The house size is generally restricted to 100 square metres and three bedrooms. In the event that the house is no longer needed for the farm business, it can only be sold at 60 per cent of its open market value.
“What the planners are doing is narrowing the gap between agricultural and affordable dwellings,” explained Mr Jones. “Halls has recently obtained planning consent for an affordable dwelling near Bridgnorth, which will allow a local lady to continue living on her parents’ agricultural land. We are also looking at several other sites.
“Whilst on the one hand the planning policy can appear restrictive, it does help people who genuinely wish to remain living close to their roots. Applications for affordable homes need to be near to within or on the edge of a settlement.”
Mr Jones can be contacted at Halls, Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury on Tel: 01743 284777.
