Agricultural and Rural Workers Dwellings
Planning for a rural worker's or agricultural dwelling involves proving an essential, year-round need for a worker to live on-site for a specific farm, rural business or equestrian enterprise, demonstrating the enterprise is financially viable, and showing no existing accommodation meets the need, typically requiring an agricultural appraisal with detailed business plans and accounts to satisfy local planning policies and tests.
Key Requirements & Tests:
The Functional Test (Essential Need): You must prove it's necessary for a worker to live on-site (within sight and sound) 24/7 for the business's operation, often due to animal welfare, security, or specific tasks.
The Financial Test (Viability): The rural business (farm, forestry, etc.) must be established (often 3+ years), profitable (or expected to be), and financially sound for the long term.
The "No Other Accommodation" Test: You must show that no other existing buildings (on-site or nearby) can meet the functional need, and that the proposed dwelling is no larger than necessary for the worker.
What's Needed in the Application:
Agricultural/Equestrian Appraisal: A detailed report assessing the business, its finances, and the functional need for the dwelling.
Business Plans & Accounts: Proof the business is viable, using methods like "standard man days" to calculate labour needs.
Plans & Drawings: Showing the proposed dwelling's scale and location.
Market Search: Evidence that no alternative housing exists locally.
In Summary:
It's a strict planning process to prevent isolated housing, ensuring any new dwelling directly supports a genuine, robust, and essential rural enterprise, not just general housing on farmland.
HL Rural has 23 years of experience of guiding rural clients through the planning process and having a proven track record of gaining consent for a number of rural businesses. For further information and advice, please get in touch or book an initial free consultation.
case study
FARM NEAR IPPLEPEN IN SOUTH DEVON
We assisted the Rossiter family in South Devon with gaining consent for a third on-farm agricultural dwelling to support their commercial sheep, breeding and arable enterprise.
HL Rural gained planning consent for an agricultural dwelling on a farm near Ipplepen in South Devon to support a livestock and arable enterprise:
