Is converting an agricultural field into allotments a change of use in terms of requiring planning permission ?

[DealeyPlaza1963]

Looking at a small scale diversification on a few acres and wondering is converting an agricultural field (currently grass ley) into income producing allotments a change of use in terms of requiring planning permission ? And ifso would it be rateable?

Any knowledge, experience or thoughts you can share on this would be appreciated.

 

[puppet]

A land agent will be along in a minute but I would have thought that is a major change of use simply by the change in traffic volume and perhaps access.
No longer agricultural use so may be rateable too.

 

[robs1]

As ex ag very unlikely they would currently have any rates due but that may change.
If you change land from a field to a domestic garden you need PP but growing veg in small plots is little different to farming it. If you have a parking space and hard standing plus little huts council will likely want pp but change of use is cheap, just start small and give them a load of bull about local food, sustainability and health benefits

 

[George from SJM Planning]

Hi, yes it would require planning permission. Assuming the allotments will be open to multiple tenants then you will need to thing about parking and access arrangements, impact on the countryside, noise impacts on neighbours etc.

 

[puppet]

Hi, yes it would require planning permission. Assuming the allotments will be open to multiple tenants then you will need to thing about parking and access arrangements, impact on the countryside, noise impacts on neighbours etc.

A land agent will be along in a minute.

See - didn't take long

 

[Doing it for the kids]

As above.

i wouldn’t bother, think our parish charge £10 a year. It’s not a money making scheme and most have great intentions for the first few weeks then sort of forget about It leaving weed infested plots.

 

[matthew]

We were told if land is deeded to allotments, that was 'in perpetuity'.
The land couldn't be taken back.

 

[chaffcutter]

Local council here gave permission for a change of use to allotments, and then tried to stop the allotment holders putting sheds or greenhouses up. This went to appeal and the council lost.

 

[Devonian]

We have had village allotments on our land for over 10 years now. It's an acre plot which includes a car park and they pay us £1000 a year, which is actually quite cheap. Was £1300 to start with but they couldn't fill them to start with so we dropped the price as a good will gesture and have never put it back up again. Started as a 7 year tenancy, and now just keeps rolling on.
We don't pay any business rates, but did have to get planning for change of use of agricultural land. But it was very straightforward as it was beneficial to the village.
If you have people interested, I would definitely go for it. You won't earn half that much per acre conventional farming!

 

[rick_vandal]

As an allotment holder inside the M25, I worked it out to be 17 full plots per acre at £30 pa each for a secure site with keys and water standpipes.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

As an allotment holder inside the M25, I worked it out to be 17 full plots per acre at £30 pa each for a secure site with keys and water standpipes.

hardly worth it? One fly tipping issue, a leaking pipe and that’s a few Years profit Gone?

 

[renewablejohn]

All sorts of problems with the legalities of allotments. Hugh Fearnly cut through these problems and came up with a loophole which he called Landshare. Unfortunately he pulled the plug in 2015 and has now left many landowners with plots that now have to be reverted back to agricultural land. Would not advise to do it as they get fed up when the 2nd flush of weeds arrive. Your then faced with a plot full of there rubbish which has to be removed before you can relet.

 

[John dodd]

We have had village allotments on our land for over 10 years now. It's an acre plot which includes a car park and they pay us £1000 a year, which is actually quite cheap. Was £1300 to start with but they couldn't fill them to start with so we dropped the price as a good will gesture and have never put it back up again. Started as a 7 year tenancy, and now just keeps rolling on.
We don't pay any business rates, but did have to get planning for change of use of agricultural land. But it was very straightforward as it was beneficial to the village.
If you have people interested, I would definitely go for it. You won't earn half that much per acre conventional farming!

Very interesting where is your village

 

[Field to Allotments]

A land agent will be along in a minute but I would have thought that is a major change of use simply by the change in traffic volume and perhaps access.
No longer agricultural use so may be rateable too.

This would be a local community project for many who have been waiting several years for allotments; the field has easy access and parking for 5 cars, and the local parish council will be presenting it at the next meeting on 8th January to get a summary of interest.

 

[Lazy Sod]

I know that it's nearly Ba-Humbug time, but I think that allotments are a blot on the landscape.

 

[MrNoo]

I know the local allotments near here have a two year + waiting list, very popular indeed. I don't know what they charge etc but I do know a chap who has two there and he's forever bringing me veg!!!

 

[Bogweevil]

I know that it's nearly Ba-Humbug time, but I think that allotments are a blot on the landscape.

They can be, so it makes sense to consider if individual polytunnels allowed, or indeed any structure over 1m high,. Communal polytunnels and storage sheds can work well and keep the debris manageable. Typically the site is let to a society who are responsible for keeping it all up together. As refundable deposit to ensure outgoing tenants don't leave piles of shyte is wise. And no old carpets or tyres, ever.

 

[Tucker]

In my Grandads day we had 150 ish allotments, 60's/70's (nobody had a car so parking not required). Then during 80's/90's it really dropped off so we gradually took them back into the field (what a huge PITA that was !!!). We are now down to 15 and have a waiting list, not going to expand back out though, £10/year is just providing a service, not a money maker and as we've now whittled it down to good people its not worth the grief (for us) to expand it again, poor parking so would be tricky anyway.