Permitted development under Class Q allows some agricultural buildings to become homes, subject to prior approval. Changes in 2024 widened the scheme, allowing up to ten homes within floorspace limits. One of the matters the council can consider is the transport and highways impact of the development.
What the council looks at
- Visibility where the farm track meets the road
- Whether the track and lane are wide enough, with places to pass
- The number of trips the new homes will generate
- Access for refuse and emergency vehicles
- Parking and turning within the site
Use the existing traffic
A working farm can generate a lot of movements, often by large vehicles such as tractors, trailers and lorries. Where the building has a genuine agricultural use, the comparison with the new homes can be favourable. Evidence of the current use makes that case.
Practical fixes
- Trimming hedges within the highway verge to improve visibility
- Passing places on a long single-track lane
- Moving or widening the access point
- A bin collection point at the road
Keep it focused
A prior approval is not a full planning application. A short note that answers the transport question, with a visibility drawing and the trip comparison, is usually all that is needed.
General information, not advice on a specific site. Policy and guidance correct as of October 2026.