About 60 Norfolk and Suffolk farmers attended the event in Halesworth, the latest in series of talks jointly organised by the National Farmers' Union and accountancy firm Lovewell Blake.
Speakers from property agency Durrants outlined the challenges and opportunities presented by new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules and Class Q Permitted Development Rights (PDR).
Under BNG, developers are required to replace habitats and biodiversity lost during building projects - plus a net gain of at least 10pc - either by ringfencing wildlife areas on site, or by paying landowners to create equivalent BNG units for them.
Agricultural and commercial specialist Nick Durrant said: "Biodiversity Net Gain will affect a good proportion of farmers here tonight, whether they are making planning applications or providing off-site BNG access for developers. We mustn’t underestimate its significance."
Mr Durrant outlined the timeline for the introduction of BNG, with even small-scale applications being included in the new rules from April 2 this year.
He also pointed out that while this would affect farmers wanting to develop their own land, it would also provide commercial opportunities for them to provide "managed habitats" on behalf of developers.
Mr Durrant’s colleague Jasmine Philpott, who leads the planning team at Durrants, explained the simplified planning procedures under Class Q Permitted Development Rights, which allow farmers to redevelop agricultural buildings for residential use without applying for full planning permission.
She said specific qualifying criteria have to be met, including limits on the number of dwellings created, and the size of the development.
Only buildings which have been in agricultural use are eligible, and there is a strict limit of three years between permission being granted and the development being finished - unlike traditional planning consent, where the development must be started within three years.
The meeting also heard updates on local development plans, rural housing policies and land value trends.
Lovewell Blake agricultural partner Ryan Lincoln, who chaired the event, said: "This was an extremely valuable overview of the planning issues which are facing farmers at the moment, at a time when there are many changes being introduced."
New planning rules could have a 'huge impact' on region's farms, say experts
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16.03.2024
About 60 Norfolk and Suffolk farmers attended the event in Halesworth, the latest in series of talks jointly organised by the National Farmers' Union and accountancy firm Lovewell Blake.
Speakers from property agency Durrants outlined the challenges and opportunities presented by new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) rules and Class Q Permitted Development Rights (PDR).
Under BNG, developers are required to replace habitats and biodiversity lost during building projects - plus a net gain of at least 10pc - either by ringfencing wildlife areas on site,........
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