Approved plans moving forward for rural transformation in Cambridgeshire
In a significant development, national property consultancy Carter Jonas has secured planning and listed building consent for the conversion of seven houses from redundant farm buildings in Horningsea, Cambridgeshire. The project, which aims to address a local housing crisis, is expected to commence by the end of the year and be completed within 12 months.
The farm buildings, which are 'curtilage listed', were previously ineligible for conversion due to the nearby Grade II listed manor house. However, new planning rules have been implemented to make it easier for farmers to convert unused farm buildings into homes, farm shops, and gyms. These changes aim to streamline the process and increase the number of dwellings allowed from agricultural buildings.
Under the revised rules, farmers can no longer convert a single large agricultural building into one big dwelling if it exceeds 150 square meters. Instead, larger buildings can be converted into multiple smaller dwellings. For instance, a 450 sq m building could be converted into three 150 sq m homes. The total number of dwellings that can be created from converting agricultural buildings on one farm has also increased from five to up to ten, with a combined floor area allowance of up to 1,000 sq m.
Tim Jones, head of rural at Carter Jonas, expressed support for the planning committee's detailed consideration of the application. He noted that it is rare for committee members to overturn officers' clear recommendations for refusal. Colin Brown, head of planning & development at Carter Jonas in Cambridge, stated that the project's approval demonstrated the committee's understanding of the real benefits of the conversion.
The proposed conversion should not be dismissed lightly due to the worsening housing crisis, as the quality of the new homes is expected to be high. Residential development in Horningsea, where the site is located, is normally restricted to two units according to Policy Section 11 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan. However, the planning application highlights contradictions in local planning policies that may need to be addressed in the future.
It is important to note that the £9m awarded to Norfolk councils for housing plans is not related to the current project. The conversion of the farm buildings offers a new opportunity for farmers to diversify income and utilize unused farm buildings while adapting to local planning policies more flexibly. The streamlined process under permitted development rights can also encourage other uses such as farm shops and gyms, depending on the specifics of local planning and building regulations.
This project serves as a testament to the potential benefits of the new planning rules for farmers and the local community. As the housing crisis continues, such developments could play a crucial role in meeting housing demands while preserving the character of rural areas.
- The new planning rules, implemented to simplify the conversion of unused farm buildings into homes, farm shops, and gyms, could potentially increase the number of dwellings allowed from agricultural buildings, as demonstrated in the Horningsea project.
- The farm buildings conversion project in Horningsea, which is expected to provide high-quality new homes to address a local housing crisis, could serve as an example of how farms can diversify income and utilize unused buildings while adapting to local planning policies more flexibly.
- Investors might find the revised housing policy, which allows farmers to convert larger buildings into multiple smaller dwellings and increases the total number of dwellings allowed, an attractive opportunity for financial investing in the housing-market, especially in rural areas experiencing a housing crisis.
