Scottish Planning Permission Laws?

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MagicMelon

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Does anyone know how a building qualifies as "agricultural"? Basically we are looking to build stables / sheds which would be used to house horses, but also possibly sheep. If we omitted to say about the horses using it - would it qualify as "agricultural" and thus we wouldnt need planning permission?? Or do you have to be a registered smallholding / farm?

Basically am trying to find out the law to see how we can get round the need to apply if possible! It just takes so long in my area to get planning passed and I really want these up by the winter! It really bugs me that farmers are allowed to chuck up massive ugly sheds wherever they feel like it yet I cant even put up some nice, stables in a place nobody would even see (and where stables were prior but no planning was sought originally and the previous owners removed).
 
can't help re shed idea but if you are putting up wooden stables most stable manufacturers will put them on skids and add a mini tow bar at the front. In theory these are then "moveable" so don't need planning in reality you just never move them! Vale stables did somethign similar for my sister-in-law and they are fab
 
I was sure that if you had sheep, a tractor, or hay etc in it then it's classed as agricultural.

Just don't mention the horses, it will cause you more hassle than you need!
 
To be an agricultural holding you need to have a proper agricultural number and keep record of your sheep and cattle, and pigs which all need passports and movement records.
I don't think you will get away with anything in parts of Scotland where it seems horses are allowed in private stabling [with PP] but any attempt to make it commercial is another thing altogether.
Change of use is another planning issue.
 
Vale stables did somethign similar for my sister-in-law and they are fab
smile.gif
 
You will need to be an agricultural holding and whether you can do it under prior notification agricultural process will partly depend on size of building, and also the size of your holding (there are different rules for under and over 5 hectares.
Note that even if you can use the process and are over 5ha, you cant just build it, you have to fill in a form and pay a fee, the fee is lower than PP tho, Council then has 28 days to determine if it really does qualify and then after 28 days they will either advise PP needed or you can go ahead.

Note also you may still likely have to comply with building regs. Which is a much bigger cost than the PP fee both to get the warrant, and also to comply with the things in it re drainage etc!

Unless you already have these mythical sheep you really need to go down the PP route for the stables for your horses......

I should add tho you shouldnt be afraid of applying for the PP unless you have horrid neighbours or something. Our house is B listed but we applied for a mini barn stables and they passed it straight through no prob. Note it might be easier to get PP if you go for a mini barn as it looks more like an agric shed, so fits in better with all those lovely sheds you see round you and love so much :-DDDD

Heres the link for the guidance and the form
http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/devservices/Form-PriorNotification.pdf
 
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