Services
Farm Diversification
Farm diversification gives landowners the opportunity to maximise the value of their land and associated property as well as boosting farm incomes.
Mid West Planning has experience in providing advice and navigation through the planning application process, for all types of rural enterprises wishing to diversify operations.
Successful planning applications have been achieved for a variety of farm diversification projects. These include:
- Farm visitor attractions
- Log Cabins and camping pods, caravan and camping sites for holiday and short-stay accommodation
- Fisheries – Lakes with or without associated holiday accommodation
- Change of use to all kinds of commercial uses
- Traditional barn and contemporary building conversions
- Equine related development
- Dog walking fields
- Farm shops and other destination venue enterprises
Planning Policy Position
National and Local planning policies generally support farm diversification and tourist development.
Mid West Planning can provide the expertise to guide you through the planning process whether it be through a full planning application or by means of a range of permitted development rights.
What’s required to make an Application
Planning applications for many diversification projects will involve various specialist reports and supporting documents, with detailed plans and drawings to be prepared and submitted to your local planning authority.
Mid West Planning’s experienced Team can advise you of what will be required, including the preparation of all necessary plans and drawings for application types.
Agricultural Development
Mid West Planning has an excellent track record in achieving permission for new agricultural buildings, irrigation reservoirs, polytunnels, farm tracks and hard standings, and other forms of agricultural development.
Very often agricultural development can be secured via permitted development rights under Schedule 2, Part 6, Class A or B) of the Town and Country Planning (England) Order 2015, (the GPDO), negating the need for a full planning application to be submitted.
This procedure is intended to simplify the planning system for those people carrying on an agricultural trade or business, where agricultural development is required solely for the farming operation. There are similar arrangements for forestry buildings.
Where permitted development rights are not available, the developer will need to make a full planning application. This can often involve the preparation and submission of a number of specialist reports at considerable cost to the applicant, and may result in delays due to seasonal requirements for some specialist surveys etc.
These reports often include ecology reports which will include Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations, Flood Risk Assessments, Arboricultural Reports, Landscaping Schemes, Transport Statements, Drainage Reports and Heritage and Landscape assessments etc.
We have a network of specialist consultants that we have worked with for many years and trust, and can obtain quotations on behalf of clients at competitive rates. The experienced team at Mid West Planning can advise you about what could be asked for, the options available, and likely timescales and costs involved.
Change of Use
In many cases a change of use of a piece of land or a building will require planning permission.
Mid West Planning will guide you through the process of applying to your local council for planning permission. In recent years the planning system has undergone several changes, meaning that most planning applications require Design and Access Statements, site and location plans and Elevation plans.
Building Regulations
Building Regulations are an essential aspect of constructing a building in England and Wales. They promote standards for a variety of factors, including energy efficiency, accessibility, structure, and fire safety.
Your project will need to comply with building regulations if the work you are doing, or is being done for you by a builder or contractor, is defined as ‘Building Work’ in Regulation 3 of the Building Regulations.
In other words, you will probably need to comply with Building Regulations if you are putting up a new (non-agricultural) building, extending or altering an existing one, or providing services and fittings in a building, such as foul water and rainwater drainage, replacement windows, and fuel-burning appliances.
At Mid West Planning Ltd, we are experienced in obtaining building regulations approval for our clients' projects, and we are happy to establish the approvals required for your specific project. We can prepare the necessary drawings, specifications, and supporting calculations, liaise with other consultants, the Local Authority Building Control, or an independent assessor to ensure your project complies with building regulations.
While a builder or contractor may take responsibility for complying with building regulations, it is important to confirm this before the project begins. Ultimately, the property owner is responsible if the project does not comply.
Mid West Planning Ltd has extensive experience in providing planning consultancy and building regulations services to ensure your project is in compliance with the latest regulations.
Architectural Services
We understand that every client has a unique architectural vision, and we are dedicated to bringing your vision to life. We can work with you from the earliest stages of concept design, helping you to identify your needs and goals and analysing the site's opportunities and constraints. By taking into account your preferences and requirements, we can create a design that is truly unique and tailored to your needs.
Once the design concept is finalised, we can provide detailed construction drawings and specifications that will serve as the blueprint for your project. Our team is well-versed in the latest building codes and construction techniques, ensuring that your project is built to the highest standards of quality and safety.
We are committed to providing exceptional client service and ensuring that each project meets our high standards of design excellence and technical expertise.
Contact the Design Team today to learn more about how we can help you turn your architectural vision into a reality.
Planning Enforcement
Mid West Planning can help you should you find yourself subject of a planning enforcement notice, or if you are threatened with enforcement action.
There are generally two ways to respond to a Planning Enforcement notice, either comply or appeal the notice. Mid West Planning can help you decide which is the most appropriate route and should you wish to appeal, in supporting you in your case.
Previous cases that Mid West Planning has been involved with include:-
- Defending a client with unlawful alterations and additions to a barn conversion
- Defending a client who had inadvertently breached listed building control
- Defending a client with unlawful agricultural worker accommodation
- Defending a client with a house built, but not in accordance with the approved plans
- Defending a client in breach of an agricultural occupancy condition
- Defending a client with an unlawful use of farm buildings taking place
Planning Appeals
Planning appeals are lodged to the Planning Inspectorate which is a body independent of your local planning authority. There are a number of appeal routes that can be taken: -
- The householder decision appeal service, which is specifically for appeals relating to householder applications such as extensions, garages, annexes etc.
- Written Representation route. This is for appealing decisions other than householder appeals and most suitable for relatively simple developments where a cost-effective appeal process is important.
- A Hearing. This is how more complicated appeals are dealt with. Everything is submitted in writing and an in-person hearing is held, usually at the LPA office and the Inspector will lead a discussion about the issues at hand, and how they relate to planning policies.
- An Enquiry. This appeal route is usually required for large scale development, or where an Inspector decides that evidence needs to be given under oath. It is the most expensive route to appeal due to the time inputs and can involve a planning solicitor and even a barrister and expert witnesses.
Mid West Planning has experience in all appeal procedures. If you would like a free, no obligation discussion about the options available, please give Mid West Planning a call. Planning appeal is the last option, and there could be other ways to achieve your objective without having to resort to the delay and cost associated with an appeal.
Please also refer to Planning Enforcement for more information if you are faced with potential enforcement action.
Planning for Log Cabins & Caravans
Mid West Planning has experience of providing clients with help and advice to achieve success with planning applications to develop log cabins, camping pod and caravan sites for tourist accommodation.
Current planning policies generally allow for some development in the countryside outside of Greenbelts. Proposals that are submitted must be commensurate with their surroundings and be appropriate in scale and size. Developments should be in keeping with their environment and respect the biodiversity and geodiversity of the site.
Adding tourist accommodation to a piece of land can be a wonderful way to diversify an existing business and add value to your property.
We can provide the expertise to guide you through the planning process to maximise the likelihood of achieving a successful planning application.
Renewable Energy Projects
We are all aware of the rising costs of energy for householders and businesses, and the concern about energy security. Planning policy has shifted to support the installation of most forms of renewable energy schemes in appropriate locations.
Many small-scale renewable energy projects such as air source heat pumps, roof mounted solar panels etc can be installed under permitted development rights. Some will require the submission of a prior notification to the Local Planning Authority, others won’t. Some renewable Energy Projects will require Listed Building consent because listed buildings have no permitted development rights.
Larger scale renewable energy development is likely to require full planning permission, however, on-shore wind farms are not supported currently by central Government.
Mid West Planning has been actively involved in securing planning consent for a number of farm-based anaerobic digestion plants to produce bio-methane for export directly to the Gas Grid.
Site selection is the most important starting point. A developer will need a suitable gas grid connection point near to the AD Plant, an excellent road network to facilitate the delivery of feedstock and a reasonable distance from residential properties.
Mid West Planning can assist with assessing a particular site for AD Plant development.
Commercial solar photovoltaic panels for electricity generation remains a popular choice for farmers and landowners because it is relatively easy to develop and to operate.
These can be roof mounted or ground mounted. Battery storage is becoming more affordable and popular because it allows the operator to store energy for own use or to export it to the grid at peak electricity usage time to maximise financial returns.
Ground mounted solar farms have the potential to vastly increase biodiversity and the land around the panels can be grazed by sheep if desired.
We have successfully obtained planning consent for biomass boilers for clients around the country, including for installation at hotels, care homes and other businesses.
Whatever your ideas for renewable energy production and storage, we would love to discuss them with you and help you through the planning process.
Planning for Fisheries
Fishing Lakes can be an economically rewarding farm diversification project. They can range from small scale fishing lakes to larger scale developments that may include a café and shop with camping facilities, which can ensure the long-term success of the project.
Fishing lakes can be an acceptable form of development in the countryside, especially if they can be seen to improve the local economy, provide employment and enhance ecological diversity for that area, increasing the range of wildlife habitat.
Setting up a new fishery will usually require advice from a fishery expert about the suitability of a site for fishing and retention of water.
Contact us to find out how Mid West Planning can help you.
Dwellings for Rural Workers
Generally, there is planning policy resistance to building isolated new homes in the countryside. One exception to this, is where it can be proved that there is an essential need for a worker to live at, or very close to their work in the countryside.
Phil Plant at Mid West Planning has over 20 years’ experience in this specialist area, and can guide you through the planning application process for a rural worker’s dwelling application.
Planning policy requirements in most Local Authority areas will include the need to submit an agricultural or rural enterprise appraisal to satisfy the planners that there is an essential need for a full-time employee to reside at the site.
We will be happy to discuss your requirements in confidence, and help you provide the information needed to prepare a viable planning application.
We can also provide the architectural service in house, that will be required to develop a new-build home, from conceptual sketches, to full planning drawings, and then help you through the building regulation process, and even with working drawings and the tendering process if required.
Take a look at our case studies for more information.