Class Q permitted development allows many agricultural buildings to be converted to homes without full planning permission. Here's how it works.
Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 allows the change of use of an agricultural building to a residential dwelling (or dwellings) without the need for full planning permission, subject to prior approval from the local planning authority.
This is a significant planning tool for Yorkshire barn owners and landowners, as it opens up conversion opportunities that might otherwise be refused under full planning policy, particularly in the open countryside.
To qualify for Class Q, the building must: be an agricultural building that has been used for agriculture for a period of 10 years prior to the application; be structurally capable of conversion (not requiring new external structural works that would amount to a rebuild); not be in a National Park, AONB, Site of Special Scientific Interest, or certain other protected areas; and not exceed certain size thresholds.
Our architects prepare Class Q prior approval applications regularly and understand both the technical requirements and the practical limitations. We will advise honestly on whether your barn is likely to be approved under Class Q.
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