RE: ANIMAL SHELTERS POLYTUNNELS. ADVICE NEEDED!

Little Karoo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Taplow
Hello Everyone
Me yet again!
Ok - Council told us we must remove our Field Shelters or face enforcement, meantime nowhere to put the Straw etc .
Does anyone know if planning is required for POLYTUNNEL/ Animal Shelters . Phoned the Council and they are a bit vague . Can't find any local applications but have seen people with them on their land. Any advice very gratefully received !
Thanks Heather
 

Little Karoo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Taplow
How much land?
Over 12 acres and I believe you can still get permitted development for sheds for hay etc.
We were recently refused , partly I think because we are not yet farming full time. Were advised we got one of these Temporary Shelters might show the Planners we need an actual Barn !
 

Little Karoo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Taplow
Mobile field shelters don’t need planning.
No limit on size as long as they are mobile. I have seen some that need a tracked vehicle to move them but they are mobile.
Planning officer said they had " a degree of permanence " Neighbours on Parish Council complained so we put in Planning for a Barn then Council refused it and said our new Lavender farm was industrial! ( Having a bit of a bad time at mo! )
 

Little Karoo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Taplow
Just put a pole barn up. Fill it with hay. Get it on retrospective.
You mean like a Cert of Lawful development? If I did that I think the neighbours would report us to the Council before we'd even completed it ! We are close to London and lot of Greenbelt NIMBYS
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
Hello Everyone
Me yet again!
Ok - Council told us we must remove our Field Shelters or face enforcement, meantime nowhere to put the Straw etc .
Does anyone know if planning is required for POLYTUNNEL/ Animal Shelters . Phoned the Council and they are a bit vague . Can't find any local applications but have seen people with them on their land. Any advice very gratefully received !
Thanks Heather

Depends whether its a temporary structure or permanent. In polytunnel speak if it has a concrete base and the hoops are set in then it is permanent. If however you have temporary stub anchors. ie a block of concrete which you can lift with a pipe through it which the polytunnel hoop attaches to then its a temporary structure and the council can whistle. Be careful of permanent connections as they will turn a temporary structure into a permanent structure. Therefore electric by generator gas by bottled gas and water by IBC container. If you have more than 5 ha then you should really not have a problem if you do a polite response and advise that you believe there classed as temporary structures and could the council reference the legislation that says the temporary structures are not allowed. Maybe even invite them down for a site visit to confirm that they do comply with the requirements of being a temporary structure. Certainly worked for me with two field shelters 12.5mtr x 8mtr. Please do everything in writing with any council then at least when it comes to an Appeal you have documented evidence of the Council attitude.
 

Little Karoo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Taplow
Depends whether its a temporary structure or permanent. In polytunnel speak if it has a concrete base and the hoops are set in then it is permanent. If however you have temporary stub anchors. ie a block of concrete which you can lift with a pipe through it which the polytunnel hoop attaches to then its a temporary structure and the council can whistle. Be careful of permanent connections as they will turn a temporary structure into a permanent structure. Therefore electric by generator gas by bottled gas and water by IBC container. If you have more than 5 ha then you should really not have a problem if you do a polite response and advise that you believe there classed as temporary structures and could the council reference the legislation that says the temporary structures are not allowed. Maybe even invite them down for a site visit to confirm that they do comply with the requirements of being a temporary structure. Certainly worked for me with two field shelters 12.5mtr x 8mtr. Please do everything in writing with any council then at least when it comes to an Appeal you have documented evidence of the Council attitude.
Many thanks. We have more than 5h . I wasn't thinking of any base apart from to put some Pallets under the straw . I'm still wondering about our existing timber Field Shelters. Currently we have 2 x 9mts x 3 full of Straw plus a Workshop. Third open front one blew down in the wind. They haven't actually served any notice just said either remove them or apply for a Barn but when we did that they refused and within days called me to say we had to remove the Field Shelters or apply again
But now they have indicated that they would refuse again so we're going round in circles. I thought maybe if we dismantled them and went for a large Polytunnel might appease the Planners. Have spent 20k already and getting really frightened as they keep threatening I'll have a criminal record if I don't comply.
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
Many thanks. We have more than 5h . I wasn't thinking of any base apart from to put some Pallets under the straw . I'm still wondering about our existing timber Field Shelters. Currently we have 2 x 9mts x 3 full of Straw plus a Workshop. Third open front one blew down in the wind. They haven't actually served any notice just said either remove them or apply for a Barn but when we did that they refused and within days called me to say we had to remove the Field Shelters or apply again
But now they have indicated that they would refuse again so we're going round in circles. I thought maybe if we dismantled them and went for a large Polytunnel might appease the Planners. Have spent 20k already and getting really frightened as they keep threatening I'll have a criminal record if I don't comply.
How long have the existing timber field shelters been up.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
Move to Scotland. My neighbour with the three acre farm got planning for a 12m x 24m building for his four sheep which he uses for processing and storing firewood! If you think I am kidding, watch this space.
 

Mc115reed

Member
Livestock Farmer
Yes- definitely.

Get land agent involved, will cost a few quid but they’ll sort it for you I don’t see how having a field shelter can be a problem as unless it’s the Taj Mahal, a telehandler would move it no problem so it’s temporary....

Is this county council or parish council we’re talking? As I’d hazard a guess the parish council will be quoting things they know nothing about in the hope you take it down and say no more....
 

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