Planning Guidelines

Agricultural buildings planning application rules.

Updated following rule changes in April 2021

Full Planning Permission is always required if any of the following apply:

• building over 1000 sq metres (10763.9 sq feet) in floor area

• building or works for intensive livestock, slurry or sewage within 400m (437 yards) of a protected building, ie. building occupied by people but not part of a working farm

• on less than 0.4 ha of land

• construction, alteration or extension of a dwelling

• building or works not designed for agriculture

• building over 12.0 m (39 feet) in height

• building over 3.0 m (10 feet) in height within 3 km of an aerodrome

• within 25 m (82 feet) of a trunk or classified road

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If the above don't apply then you instead require a Prior Notification if it is intended to do any of the following:

• build a farm or forestry building

• alter or significantly extend a farm or forestry building, ie. to increase the cubic content of the building by 10%, or exceed its original height

• build or alter a farm or forestry road

• If however work has started or any of the below apply full planning world be required

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Example 1

• • • • Proposed new general purposed shed

      • size of building 12 m x 30 m = total area 360 sq metres

      • Farm house within 400 m

      • Prior notification required.

Example 2

• • • • Proposed new cubicle shed with slated tank

      • size of building 12.5 m x 36 m = total area 450 sq metres

      • Farm house within 400 m

      • Cottage within 400 m not owned by farm

      • Full planning required

Example 3

• • • • Proposed new cubicle shed with slated tank

      • size of building 30 m x 55 m = total area 1650 sq metres

      • Farm house within 400 m

      • Full planning required

If you would like help as to whether you require a prior notification or full planning please send your project details and site address to us.