Thursday 29 May 2014

Dispute over National Park agricultural building conversion rights

In another excellent article by Roger Milne, we see that clearly more thought needs to be put to conversion rights for barns, stables and other outbuilding on farm sites.

Richmondshire District Council and North Yorkshire County Council have written to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles asking him to block an Article 4 Order made by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA).

The Order seeks to remove permitted development rights for the conversion of barns and other agricultural buildings to flexible commercial uses including shops, restaurants, offices, hotels and sports halls without the need for planning permission.

The local authorities argue that the action of the National Park Authority is at odds with need to stimulate economic growth in rural areas

Councillor John Blackie, Leader of Richmondshire District Council, said: “The relaxation of planning controls would greatly assist in boosting farm incomes, tourism, business for the host of small construction trades that are a feature of the National Park and the general prosperity of the local communities and local economies.

“The YDNPA are wrong to try to control these key opportunities for enterprise via a stifling Article 4 Order, and I hope the Ministers will agree with us and reject their request.”

The North Yorkshire County Council Executive Member for Highways and Planning Services, Councillor Gareth Dadd, said: “We understand the need to care for the unique heritage of the Yorkshire Dales, but in a sparsely populated area such as this, maintaining heritage means we also have to help communities to be sustainable and to thrive socially and economically. We cannot agree with the imposition of rigid planning controls in this way.”

YDNPA chairman Peter Charlesworth said: “We think our local communities ought to have a say, through the planning process, on developments that could significantly affect them.”

To read more HERE.

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