Individuals and businesses operating in the agriculture sector often look to the development of new buildings and associated dwellings in order to meet expansion needs.  Also, in these challenging economic times, they may look to diversification schemes to generate additional income, such as motocross practice facilities, or the use of land for clay pigeon shooting. Such schemes are governed by legislation, planning policy and government-driven guidance.  Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons’ Planning team has the expertise to advise on this ever-changing area.

The team regularly advises and represents clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious issues, including:

• securing planning permissions
• preparing site appraisals
• certificates of lawfulness applications
• appeals against enforcement notices
• the refusal/non-determination of planning applications
• statutory appeals and judicial review
• planning obligations and infrastructure agreements
• gypsy and traveller law
• permitted development rights

The team has an enviable rural client base as a result of its strong ties with organisations such as the National Farmers’ Union (we are the sole NFU panel firm for eight counties), the Country Land & Business Association, The Tenant Farmers Association, the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators Association, and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. The team also has strong links with a wide range of planning consultants, land agents and surveyors and regularly acts for substantial property developers.

Recent matters the team has advised on include:

• Defending prosecutions relating to Tree Preservation Orders.
• Defending injunction proceedings in Benford v Hart District Council, which was widely reported
• Bringing a successful judicial review claim against the Ministry of Defence, concerning misapplication of the Crichel Down Rules.
• Advising on Certificate of Lawfulness Applications, one of which resulted in a substantial rural property obtaining relief from an Agricultural Occupancy Condition, which increased its value by ��,000.
• Successfully appealing against two Enforcement Notices relating to alleged breaches of planning control in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
• Advising a substantial landowner on permitted development rights in respect of the temporary use of land for a motocross practice facility.
• Seeking planning permission for agricultural dwellings and permanent agricultural buildings.

You might be interested in latest newsletter from our Planning and Environment Team.