So for anyone that has watched the video and still says it can’t be done, there are literally hundreds of success stories all over the uk. Another good example of people in the uk buying cheap agricultural land, using the prior approval process to live on the land, establishing a genuine agricultural business and eventually getting to build their dream home; www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10538991/Muslim-parents-five-reveal-used-CHILDRENS-BOOK-build-family-home.html
In jan 23 I notified my council that I was going to build a barn on bare agricultural land where there were no buildings power or water . It was rejected . I challenged them and requested that they give reasons . They said they wanted me to resubmit via a full planning application . I said I would prefer the prior approval route ( which is all that is needed ) however I would answer their objections ….. they sent me the list of objections. … I was able to overcome all of them and they removed their objection. I am now in the process of organising groundworks…. Yes it can be done 😊
Absolutely it can be done,we bought 44 acres ag land 18 years ago,put up a barn on 28 day notice then moved a static on,kept over 100 pigs,2 eviction notices never enforced,12 weeks ago a visit from enforcement asking if anything had changed "no" is what she got(no pigs anymore) she rang the following day "case closed" I am going nowhere
@@louisebran5406There's been a static on my mother's land for around 10 years used for storage. I'm planning on moving into it in a few weeks while I build a barn. The land is fairly remote with only 2 neighbours who's farm house are out of site from my mums land. Shall I just move in quietly amd crack on with the barn or notify the council?
@@Random_cleans hey,if it was me I would move in and take the risk,if mums house is on the land then its extra accommodation,a lot 9f councils are declaring bankruptcy at the mo and its costs them roughly 10/15k to follow up with enforcement
I've been living on my land for 10 years didn't tell anyone, been very lucky. I agree with all that what you said. Mid Devon planing don't know what's going on because they are so stretched. Keep the locals happy, we let them shoot over our land.if I need a big tractor I can borrow one ,we call it swings and roundabouts.
Main thing is to live nice and quietly and not draw attention to yourselves. The people you see on TV drawing attention to themselves, with scrap cars and junk everywhere are always going to get hundreds of complaints to the council….
@@livingoffgridinscotland as soon as I apply. You have probably got to start paying council tax. So as long as I can won't tell anyone .problems start when you come to sell
@@livingoffgridinscotland thats great, i am doing similar. May i ask, why there is no need to apply for permission? Is it because you have been there for over ten years? Thanks
We have just followed this process in an area where the last 9 applications for permission for houses has been completely rejected , all permission for essentially everything non Agri was denied. We followed the process completely- set up a small holding - got our cph number - put livestock - goats - sheep chickens - our area doesn’t count horses or any equine stock as a small holding or agri. applied for a barn ( moderately sizes ) All done within 6months of set up and 24days for the planning submitted and approved. Don’t try to skip steps it won’t work you need to be genuine with everything. Show that you are wanting to actually run the farm / agri business. We was completely open with them , we are setting up a business to become farmers ect they where great no issues. Good luck !
Hi Young man Please dont allow anyone to bring negative in what you are doing..you are trying to help others..like myself and I am so grateful to you I appreciate you...keep up the good work...I rather listen to someone like you to be honest.. Many thanks Blessings
Thanks There’s others TH-camrs out there giving out lots of mis information Just trying to set the record straight and explain exactly how everything works
You Sir are a Star were just about to sell our house in west Midlands and move to north Somerset. I was totally lost for quality information... I'll follow your advice. Kudos to you.👏👏👏👏👏👏
I went down the route of "don't get reported". I'm in the woods.. the cabin already existed, but not for living in. All my neighbours know I'm here, and are glad that I am.. a true blessing after years wanting to live on the land and worrying about the planners.. I've almost been here 4 years, but am still hoping to set myself up enough to make a profit from the woods (sloow process.. Fields are so much easier! Hehe) I'm even beginnin talks with an MSP to consider making my region a Crofting region. Here's hoping!! Greetings from the East of Scotland :)
If my resesrch is correct, I fall under the 10 year rule..sadly.. as it'd be a change of use (from a work building, to a dwelling). I'd rsther not have to keep my head down for another 6 yeads as I got plenty I wanna do (which would be easier without dodging the council), hence my new strategy to see if I can help turn my region into a crofting one.. Somehow that almost seems easier! Haha
Thank you for such great advice. I currently live on a family tenanted farm but in the process of buying land with a view to retiring to this land. We are buying 13.1 acres with the possibility of making it up to closer to 18 acres. We have a 10 year plan in our heads to get all what we need to do done. This feels much more possible now I've seen your video. We will apply for a separate holding number so it's completely separate from our large farm. Access lane and building/barn are the 1st things we need to get sorted.
I love you. I been living on my land in portugal for 4 years. I miss my family to much. So I want to come back home to England. I will not have money for a house so the only way is to buy land. So I'm trying to do my home work. I have goats chickens ducks turkeys on my land .thank you so much for your help.
Great video. Really helpful info, thank you for doing this. It seems so ridiculous to have to go through such a convoluted procedure to do anything on your own land! But thank you sir, for helping people to get their heads around this country’s ancient planning procedures
the fact that you are respect people with different ideas to yours makes you much more trustworthy - because that means you understand what they're saying and have formed your own views.
Thank you. I have now ordered the two books. I was brought up on a farm but it was never given to me. I have had to work in the housing market to work. You have given me a way to get back into the farming & potentially have a house to live in. Thank you.
I own land. About 1 acre. Got a few stables there. Has electric and running water also. I want to build a container house.I plan to just make it look like containers from the outside but inside will be my palace.. as u drive past it will just look like containers. I tho o it’s a brilliant idea
I think with anything, if you do it quickly you’ll get caught! If you dump the shipping containers there, no one notices, cut windows and doors in, no one notices, make them into a shed, no one notices, then you can get away with living there…
Really interesting video. We're going through this process now - built a log cabin as an ag building under permitted development and though not currently living on site, will be looking at acting on this soon.
@swhiting100 ended up going down the ag workers tie route and got planning to live on site for 3 years to build business and then have to back and ask for permanent. My council were NOT helpful.
@BrimwoodFarm I don’t think any councils are helpful. It’s noticeable that over the last 10 years trying to get a meeting, advice or a sensible conversation with a planning officer is increasingly difficult…
4.5 acres agricultural had planning for 60x30 shed all built highways access with splays and 50 m each way straight road all I want is a cabin lol is shipping container and a site toilet on contract plus a post box that gets little post the way forward
@@livingoffgridinscotland right budy, so your video primarily about 12.5ac. A lot of people will fall into less than that. So let's say those below 12.5ac, the best path for us, register the agri business and get the company number, even better limited company, have business plan, accounts and accountant in place, diversify the business, grow, 3 years to prove profitability, one of them 3 years to be around 18k, then apply for right to build a dwelling. Prior to that which is the crux and that's the make or break. Assuming you may get reported, assuming you bought a agri land which has zero building, structural, just open land. You'd have to the above regarding business and registration of the agri business and follow the business plan. Here, if I have livestock, I'll need a livestock shelter, livestock sleeping building, Hay, feed, feed storage space, I will also need an office for workers to rest, break, and lunch and toilet..... As the land is blank canvas, I submit the full application not the PDR, will I have any issues with those structures to be built as it's a genuine business? Second question, you mentioned temp structure to live on site while you build your barn, and you stated number of possibilities, you said max height 3m to ceiling, under the PDR you can build dual pitch roof with max height 4m and flat 3m, do they not apply? Or is there a specific height for temp dwelling on agri land? Also, if the office, shed, cabin is built upon a concrete floor base or foundation whereby the framing of the structure is screwed/bolted onto the concrete base... Will that render it as permanent structure? Many thanks. I will buy the two books mentioned in your video for further study. I have made a bid on an ideal plot of land which is 11.43ac not 12.5 unfortunately, but love the land.... Blank canvas.
@@norocketsciencebuild5371 the business reference number I talk about is nothing to do with accounts or limited companies, it’s a reference number from the ministry of agriculture for your agricultural business so you can claim subsidies etc you get it along with your holding number If you don’t have 12.5 acres in England, you can either rent extra land locally to submit a prior approval for your ag building, or risk it anyway. They never refuse an agricultural building on prior approval, they either say “prior approval of the planning department is not required” which means you can go ahead and build it. Or they sat “prior approval of the planning department is required” which means they want you to submit exactly the same application again, but use the full planning approval documents and forms, and pay the full fee, this gives them more time to consider your application, possibly ask for proof of your business - livestock numbers etc and possibly a business plan etc if you’ve got sheep etc on the land it’s highly unlikely they will refuse an agricultural building providing it’s a sensible size and scale and sensibly designed - the people that get trouble are the idiots that apply for a massive factory looking building…. Obviously once your building the shed a static caravan fulfills the need for a toilet, somewhere for a farm office, for lunch, to dry off etc I’m not an expert on the caravan act, but it’s available online, obviously if you build something that is clearly not moveable in 2 parts, too wide, too tall etc you’ll get into trouble. If it’s a genuine business and if you’ve done your research usually the planners are on your side most of the way, obviously it needs to look like a farm, smell like a farm and actually be a small farm Lastly planners detest junk, they go against people that fill nice green fields with scrap cars, junk etc….
@@livingoffgridinscotland I am not too concerned with the static caravan, not a big fan of them, they don't exactly look very appealing but they have their purposes, I am more interested in being on the right side of the law while I migrant to Farmer lifestyle/Business from normal city life, and I will have to be living on site with my family in a small reasonable size cabin for breeding reasons and security, while I slowly build up the business, and the same goes for structures that are need to be reasonable and not silly. About the 3m height is that the max height for a temp dwelling?
@@norocketsciencebuild5371 3m is the max internal height, which is quite high! Most static caravans or log cabin type buildings are only 1.9m at the eves and around 2.4m to the high point of the ceiling in the middle of a twin unit caravan. - on another channel - the restoration couple on TH-cam they are just about to build a cabin on 2 new static caravan chassis to comply with the caravan act on a smallholding they have just purchased…. Probably worth giving them a follow as that guy doesn’t make mistakes….
Thank you for your advice, I have horses which are currently on my parents land in Lancashire but keep looking at land up Scotland with intentions to make that move, I would be looking at buying enough land for grazing 3 horses plus additional for keeping them in hay throughout winter and a patch for crops
craig at the small farmer life has been covering this for a long time, that field to farm book the website you cant even register or comment, be good if you guys talked, he has actually done it
I’m aware the field to farm forum is down, but this system has been around since the 1980’s well before that guy wrote a book. The book is just a good read, starting point and reference. As with everything, we will all get different experience’s with planning officers etc But it’s still a do able system as I’ve done it myself
I know nothing about all these processes apart from I want to become a farmer doing beef and goat farming but I am willing to learn and i will have to because soon I will start looking for agri/farm land to sart.
I paid for this book on their site and never received it. I don't know how to contact them as I've tried the address on the site and no joy. Not happy.
With so many small farms disappearing there should really be a new planning policy to establish small farms and rural businesses in suitable areas, wales has the one planet development…. I think the changes to converting barns in Scotland is one small step in the right direction!
Yes I agree with that , maybe allowing more small farms/Croft type businesses that require a rural base. Sadly it’s like a lot of things the big get bigger and the small disappear. I’ll pm you regarding barns.
We have bought 39 acres of agricultural land. I want to start agricultural business. Sadly, We have just discovered that our land is next the the local mayor and the councillor. There are 6 neighbours who live in front of this land. They do not want us there. They Always complain whatever we do. Especially, the grand son of the previous land owner who has sold the land to us, because He wants the land back so badly. Those people that you are talking about are so lucky , at least they have nice neighbours.
Is it a conservation area? Doesn’t matter how many neighbours you have, if you have your permitted development rights intact you can use the prior approval route and neighbours don’t get notified so can’t object to you building your barn We had lots of complaints off 2 neighbours about our caravan but we are still here 😝
@@livingoffgridinscotland Thank you so much for replying. I have made 5 Prior Notification applications and all have been refused. The council says I don't have agricultural business on land yet. They want the full planning permission application. They have refused the first full planning application, I have just submitted the second one (after the council has visited ) . I will hear within 1 more month. The mayor and councillor neighbour has represented other 5 neighbours that they concern about the road and our access is unsuitable. Well, let's see what will happen next.
@@จะสอนลูกอย่างไรดีนะ ah Yes, I covered that in one of my videos, you need to get your agricultural holding number and business reference number to prove you’re starting a business then get animals on your land or they will refuse your prior approval applications You could just start your business and wait 2 years and re submit under prior approval
@@จะสอนลูกอย่างไรดีนะ as mentioned above. You gotta do it properly the unofficial way. Also watch small farmer on TH-cam to gain more knowledge before acting. Study it well. Also don't be put off by people in power. We took our neighbour over a hmo property she refused and tried so hard, who was an active councillor at the time, and defeated her. Play by the law and they can't do sh1t! Stand your ground.
Well said ! The only thing is the thing they call a police drone. So be aware. I agree in life we must take risks. To live a life with authenticity. Because of all the rules and regulations, and most of it is nonsense. Is a lot of dictionary garbage. Good luck to all who try, l myself will most probably do the same in the near future, as I've been living in my van for the last few years since retirement. I'll probably opt for non constructible land though 🙏
Yes, hopefully the police have better things to do that use drones to look for people living off grid, but you never know, police in Scotland certainly don’t seem to like attending thefts and burglaries these days!
Your previous commenter was obviously talking about permitted development rights in Northern Ireland, which does indeed state there must be existing structures on the plot. On the plus side, permitted development rights come with much smaller holdings than in England, and also include the right to build a dwelling.
They refused agricultural building (polytunnel) on 38 acres agricultural land. I started doing agricultural business with my bare hands. I could sell vegetables about 4,000£ this year 2022. I am making the appeal for polytunel. I do not know how it will end. Agricultural holding number and CPH are the same things?
It’s was filmed a few weeks ago, but we’ve had constant torrential rain. We were carrying blocks up the stairs tonight in the dark and the rain was going sideways 🙄
They’re actually 3x2 larch, building is being knocked down in the summer, it’s been up nearly 20 years and not built by myself I must add… Previous owner built them as “temporary” field shelters then concreted they floors etc
I have a pocket of land 12mtr X 15mtr in the centre of the village I live in, it is in a conservation area and have been refused planning because its in a flood area, even though it has never flooded. Refused by the Highways, Environment and the council planning. What can I do??
Do you ever get local hassle though? I mean, the main draw is doing my own thing. Is it too much to ask to buy somewhere and live there, albeit cheaply?If there are several houses with long established residents nearby, then it poses risks. How petty might those people be.
Yes we get local hassle, neighbours initially didn’t want us here, and now there is a certain degree of jealousy locally from a few people especially since we started doing TH-cam….
Hi Richard i have a question how do you apply for council tax on agricutural land with no site address eny advice or help would be very very much appreciated ?
It’s a while since we did it, I think we phoned the council tax general enquiries line and they sent an assessor out “next time he was in the area” to confirm it was just a caravan, you’ll then get a bill Even if you don’t have a proper address royal mail are duty bound to deliver council tax bills as the council have a contract with them…
@@livingoffgridinscotland Firstly can i just take a minute to thank you for replying to me its much appreciated. Am i right in thinking then that when i start paying council tax theres a 50 - 50 chance they will cotton on to the fact im trying to live on the land without planning?
@@mikesmith-yc3os yes, totally depends on the valuer from the council tax dept, whether they can be bothered reporting you to planning or whether they’re just happy to register you and take your money….
Great video, thanks 🙏. Obviously I need land for horses, but I don’t intend on raising livestock. I’d like a fruit and vegetable small holding. So would the planning officer just need to see my first crop of potatoes going into the ground?
Hi mate, thanks for the video, im new to this, just starting One thing i didnt get, and would appreciate you explaining it again if you can, is with regards those 12,5acres. I dint quite get why i need 12,5. All i want is about 3-4. Cheers mate!
In England you don’t have any permitted development rights unless you are managing 12.5 acres. 12.5 is the golden amount of land to be able to submit a prior approval application to build a barn and then be able to live on site and start a small business. Anything less than that amount would require a full planning permission application which would almost definitely be refused. It’s working with the loopholes in our planning system. Hope this makes sense.
@@livingoffgridinscotland cheers pal. It makes sense. Although iv heard some others saying that if the land is more of woodland rather than pasture, apparently there's no need for 12.5, but much less. Ill hv a look into that Thanks a lot!
We have 3.5 acres. I'm not sure we can go down the route of barn construction and living in a caravan as we don't have 12acres. What is the 2.5 acre rule you mentioned at the start and how can we apply this? Thanks
@@chrisbaker6911 what I outlined was renting the other land to make your land holding 12.5 acres or more so that then your can benefit from permitted development rights for agricultural holdings
Check your local planning website, but in most areas any woodland has permitted development rights to build a forestry building, obviously it needs to be suitable for the location and appropriate for the land you have
😂 Vile today, we awoke to snow in County Durham, then had to drive home in the most horrendous weather… good delivery of bargain timber late afternoon though…
@@livingoffgridinscotland With the price of wood at the moment that is a fantastic saving. You must have used Heathers meals on wheels for the guys at the wood yard 🤣
Hi, I've watched all your videos which are very helpful and I was wandering if you no if they could still remove me off my land if i only had a very small amount of live stock and won't be making £18000 a year.in your video you said I would need to make a certain amount of money but I will only have a couple of acres (hopefully)? I have been told there are only a few occasions a person has ever been removed off there land for not abiding by council rules.? Thanks
It’s quite rare for council to physically evict people, especially after the total disaster of media coverage on the dale farm traveller eviction!! The thing is you do need to genuinely be running a bone fide agricultural business and I’d always advise trying to keep your site clean and tidy and keep your head down and not annoy your neighbours!! The people that get the most hassle are the good lifers that go on tv programmes like Ben fogle and live in a white static caravan in the middle of a green field surrounded by rubbish, junk, scrap cars and a blown down poly tunnel claiming to be self sufficient! 😂
Hi mate been watching your TH-cam videos on certificate of lawfulness I've just purchased a piece of land with a caravan which has been on it for 15 years with a tenant living on it I managed to move the tenant out what's the chances I can get a licence on it Frank
I bought the book some 25 years ago so I know how to do it, but I wouldn't do it in U.K. as the land is super expensive, the weather as gone badly wrong with global warming and the country is F........
@@robertlee6479 uk is done…. The new land reforms starmer is bringing in will end uk agriculture If I had my time again I’d move to northern France or Southern Ireland…..
Have alteady moved 5 years ago to Portugal where there is so many abandoned farms that you don t the worry and land at 1970 prices in U.K. so do it, move.
Hi, thanks for the video! Lot of questions been answered. Still a few points unclear though 🤦♀️ If the land we are buying already an agricultural land with buildings on it (has been abandoned for a few years) can I use the class Q conversion on one of the buildings? Obviously following all the class Q requirements, but without an agricultural business? It's in Scotland btw. Thanks in advance!
Yes you can apply for conversion under class q BUT the building must be “capable” of being converted, so it must have a concrete floor and must be enclosed (not a hay barn) and the structure must be structurally sound, obviously you could rectify some of these points prior to applying for conversion
Thanks for your reply! Yes, it has all those. I don't think it would be a problem. But does it work even if we don't have an agri business and don't want to do any business on it?
@@scotlandisawesome7499 yes, but make sure you have an agricultural holding number for the property as you’ll be asked for it as part of the application process
How hard is it to get planning to build stables and paddock on 7acer green belt land that has just been used for sheep like pasture land thanks in advance
Thank you Richard. Purchased both books the last time I watched this very informative video. It’s such a shame that I’m not able to log in to David’s forum. It still has a wealth of knowledge all the same, and as you say, from a different perspective 👍
@@livingoffgridinscotland Good info there but i just want to find land ready to build on. Don't want the hassle, aggro and worry of everything you said there and i don't want pigs 🤣
@@livingoffgridinscotland I've seen flying pigs lol. Theonly animals i want on my land are my 2 gorgeous dogs lol. Alfie does like to chase Deer though so a Deer Farm would be his dream 😂
The rules regarding permitted development rights to build a building, then your right to live on the land whilst building are the same, but to justify living there long term you’d need to be running a business that requires constant supervision such as small scale charcoal building.
The route to using prior approval depends if you have permitted development rights, you need to check this first, if you don’t you can still go down the full planning permission route to build an agricultural building and then live on site while building it, just slower and more tricky, planners would have more input into the building, like siting and materials used.
I have a small agricultural land which I purchased in 2020 at the beginning of the first lockdown as a second option in case I won't be able to pay rent. It has river frontage and water connected.. a caravan, vegetables, a boat, solar panels, wind turbine, apple trees all i need so I'll consider moving there really sick of paying rent and bills. I'll save £11k a year and stress free. The location is remote cannot be seen from the street but we had council coming here checking what's goin on. They couldn't do anything about i even informed them I'll build a wood house or a brick house come again here without my permission you'll be greeted by my pitbull and a baseball bat they never came again since april 2021 sure it's a rude thing to do but when it comes to survive I'll do anything to protect my ass
@jonny b'stard yeah, it was just a bit of rain noise, problem is we’re kind of used to the sound of rain on a tin roof living in a caravan, it probably annoys others more than it does me!
@@StrangerRecords yeah, that shed is being knocked down soon….. it was better that standing outside in the rain, the other sheds are too dark to film in this time of year
So for anyone that has watched the video and still says it can’t be done, there are literally hundreds of success stories all over the uk.
Another good example of people in the uk buying cheap agricultural land, using the prior approval process to live on the land, establishing a genuine agricultural business and eventually getting to build their dream home;
www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10538991/Muslim-parents-five-reveal-used-CHILDRENS-BOOK-build-family-home.html
In jan 23 I notified my council that I was going to build a barn on bare agricultural land where there were no buildings power or water . It was rejected . I challenged them and requested that they give reasons . They said they wanted me to resubmit via a full planning application . I said I would prefer the prior approval route ( which is all that is needed ) however I would answer their objections ….. they sent me the list of objections. … I was able to overcome all of them and they removed their objection. I am now in the process of organising groundworks…. Yes it can be done 😊
Excellent news…
Persistence pays off!
Absolutely it can be done,we bought 44 acres ag land 18 years ago,put up a barn on 28 day notice then moved a static on,kept over 100 pigs,2 eviction notices never enforced,12 weeks ago a visit from enforcement asking if anything had changed "no" is what she got(no pigs anymore) she rang the following day "case closed" I am going nowhere
@@louisebran5406There's been a static on my mother's land for around 10 years used for storage. I'm planning on moving into it in a few weeks while I build a barn. The land is fairly remote with only 2 neighbours who's farm house are out of site from my mums land. Shall I just move in quietly amd crack on with the barn or notify the council?
@@Random_cleans hey,if it was me I would move in and take the risk,if mums house is on the land then its extra accommodation,a lot 9f councils are declaring bankruptcy at the mo and its costs them roughly 10/15k to follow up with enforcement
@@louisebran5406 There's no house on the land just a few stables and out buildings.
I'm gona go for it then 🤞
I've been living on my land for 10 years didn't tell anyone, been very lucky. I agree with all that what you said. Mid Devon planing don't know what's going on because they are so stretched. Keep the locals happy, we let them shoot over our land.if I need a big tractor I can borrow one ,we call it swings and roundabouts.
Main thing is to live nice and quietly and not draw attention to yourselves.
The people you see on TV drawing attention to themselves, with scrap cars and junk everywhere are always going to get hundreds of complaints to the council….
Are you at any point going to apply for planning permission or are you just going to keep it quiet as you have been doing?
@@Salafiyahisthehaqq we have been here for 11 years so no need to apply for permission
@@livingoffgridinscotland as soon as I apply. You have probably got to start paying council tax. So as long as I can won't tell anyone .problems start when you come to sell
@@livingoffgridinscotland thats great, i am doing similar. May i ask, why there is no need to apply for permission? Is it because you have been there for over ten years? Thanks
We have just followed this process in an area where the last 9 applications for permission for houses has been completely rejected , all permission for essentially everything non Agri was denied.
We followed the process completely- set up a small holding - got our cph number - put livestock - goats - sheep chickens - our area doesn’t count horses or any equine stock as a small holding or agri. applied for a barn ( moderately sizes )
All done within 6months of set up and 24days for the planning submitted and approved.
Don’t try to skip steps it won’t work you need to be genuine with everything.
Show that you are wanting to actually run the farm / agri business.
We was completely open with them , we are setting up a business to become farmers ect they where great no issues.
Good luck !
Thanks folks!! ❤️
Hi Young man
Please dont allow anyone to bring negative in what you are doing..you are trying to help others..like myself and I am so grateful to you I appreciate you...keep up the good work...I rather listen to someone like you to be honest..
Many thanks
Blessings
Thanks
There’s others TH-camrs out there giving out lots of mis information
Just trying to set the record straight and explain exactly how everything works
You Sir are a Star were just about to sell our house in west Midlands and move to north Somerset.
I was totally lost for quality information... I'll follow your advice.
Kudos to you.👏👏👏👏👏👏
I went down the route of "don't get reported". I'm in the woods.. the cabin already existed, but not for living in. All my neighbours know I'm here, and are glad that I am.. a true blessing after years wanting to live on the land and worrying about the planners.. I've almost been here 4 years, but am still hoping to set myself up enough to make a profit from the woods (sloow process.. Fields are so much easier! Hehe) I'm even beginnin talks with an MSP to consider making my region a Crofting region. Here's hoping!!
Greetings from the East of Scotland :)
Excellent 👌
Are you trying for a certificate of lawfulness or just continue undetected?
If my resesrch is correct, I fall under the 10 year rule..sadly.. as it'd be a change of use (from a work building, to a dwelling). I'd rsther not have to keep my head down for another 6 yeads as I got plenty I wanna do (which would be easier without dodging the council), hence my new strategy to see if I can help turn my region into a crofting one.. Somehow that almost seems easier! Haha
Please advise ? I have 4.9 acres in South West Wales... natural water supply too...
No hassle from locals or red tape?
Thank you for such great advice. I currently live on a family tenanted farm but in the process of buying land with a view to retiring to this land. We are buying 13.1 acres with the possibility of making it up to closer to 18 acres. We have a 10 year plan in our heads to get all what we need to do done. This feels much more possible now I've seen your video. We will apply for a separate holding number so it's completely separate from our large farm. Access lane and building/barn are the 1st things we need to get sorted.
I love you. I been living on my land in portugal for 4 years. I miss my family to much. So I want to come back home to England. I will not have money for a house so the only way is to buy land. So I'm trying to do my home work. I have goats chickens ducks turkeys on my land .thank you so much for your help.
Great video. Really helpful info, thank you for doing this. It seems so ridiculous to have to go through such a convoluted procedure to do anything on your own land! But thank you sir, for helping people to get their heads around this country’s ancient planning procedures
the fact that you are respect people with different ideas to yours makes you much more trustworthy - because that means you understand what they're saying and have formed your own views.
Thank you. I have now ordered the two books. I was brought up on a farm but it was never given to me. I have had to work in the housing market to work. You have given me a way to get back into the farming & potentially have a house to live in. Thank you.
Good luck 👍
Thank you for your great advice...... We are just starting out on our adventure on 5 acres.
Good luck
I own land. About 1 acre. Got a few stables there. Has electric and running water also. I want to build a container house.I plan to just make it look like containers from the outside but inside will be my palace.. as u drive past it will just look like containers. I tho o it’s a brilliant idea
I think with anything, if you do it quickly you’ll get caught!
If you dump the shipping containers there, no one notices, cut windows and doors in, no one notices, make them into a shed, no one notices, then you can get away with living there…
Really interesting video. We're going through this process now - built a log cabin as an ag building under permitted development and though not currently living on site, will be looking at acting on this soon.
Excellent!
Thanks for the comment
How did it all go in the end?
@swhiting100 ended up going down the ag workers tie route and got planning to live on site for 3 years to build business and then have to back and ask for permanent. My council were NOT helpful.
@BrimwoodFarm I don’t think any councils are helpful. It’s noticeable that over the last 10 years trying to get a meeting, advice or a sensible conversation with a planning officer is increasingly difficult…
4.5 acres agricultural had planning for 60x30 shed all built highways access with splays and 50 m each way straight road all I want is a cabin lol is shipping container and a site toilet on contract plus a post box that gets little post the way forward
I am gonna have to watch this twice to get my head around a lot of gems! Thanks mate.
Watch as many times as you want!
@@livingoffgridinscotland right budy, so your video primarily about 12.5ac. A lot of people will fall into less than that. So let's say those below 12.5ac, the best path for us, register the agri business and get the company number, even better limited company, have business plan, accounts and accountant in place, diversify the business, grow, 3 years to prove profitability, one of them 3 years to be around 18k, then apply for right to build a dwelling. Prior to that which is the crux and that's the make or break. Assuming you may get reported, assuming you bought a agri land which has zero building, structural, just open land.
You'd have to the above regarding business and registration of the agri business and follow the business plan. Here, if I have livestock, I'll need a livestock shelter, livestock sleeping building, Hay, feed, feed storage space, I will also need an office for workers to rest, break, and lunch and toilet..... As the land is blank canvas, I submit the full application not the PDR, will I have any issues with those structures to be built as it's a genuine business?
Second question, you mentioned temp structure to live on site while you build your barn, and you stated number of possibilities, you said max height 3m to ceiling, under the PDR you can build dual pitch roof with max height 4m and flat 3m, do they not apply? Or is there a specific height for temp dwelling on agri land?
Also, if the office, shed, cabin is built upon a concrete floor base or foundation whereby the framing of the structure is screwed/bolted onto the concrete base... Will that render it as permanent structure? Many thanks. I will buy the two books mentioned in your video for further study. I have made a bid on an ideal plot of land which is 11.43ac not 12.5 unfortunately, but love the land.... Blank canvas.
@@norocketsciencebuild5371 the business reference number I talk about is nothing to do with accounts or limited companies, it’s a reference number from the ministry of agriculture for your agricultural business so you can claim subsidies etc you get it along with your holding number
If you don’t have 12.5 acres in England, you can either rent extra land locally to submit a prior approval for your ag building, or risk it anyway.
They never refuse an agricultural building on prior approval, they either say “prior approval of the planning department is not required” which means you can go ahead and build it. Or they sat “prior approval of the planning department is required” which means they want you to submit exactly the same application again, but use the full planning approval documents and forms, and pay the full fee, this gives them more time to consider your application, possibly ask for proof of your business - livestock numbers etc and possibly a business plan etc if you’ve got sheep etc on the land it’s highly unlikely they will refuse an agricultural building providing it’s a sensible size and scale and sensibly designed - the people that get trouble are the idiots that apply for a massive factory looking building….
Obviously once your building the shed a static caravan fulfills the need for a toilet, somewhere for a farm office, for lunch, to dry off etc
I’m not an expert on the caravan act, but it’s available online, obviously if you build something that is clearly not moveable in 2 parts, too wide, too tall etc you’ll get into trouble.
If it’s a genuine business and if you’ve done your research usually the planners are on your side most of the way, obviously it needs to look like a farm, smell like a farm and actually be a small farm
Lastly planners detest junk, they go against people that fill nice green fields with scrap cars, junk etc….
@@livingoffgridinscotland I am not too concerned with the static caravan, not a big fan of them, they don't exactly look very appealing but they have their purposes, I am more interested in being on the right side of the law while I migrant to Farmer lifestyle/Business from normal city life, and I will have to be living on site with my family in a small reasonable size cabin for breeding reasons and security, while I slowly build up the business, and the same goes for structures that are need to be reasonable and not silly.
About the 3m height is that the max height for a temp dwelling?
@@norocketsciencebuild5371 3m is the max internal height, which is quite high! Most static caravans or log cabin type buildings are only 1.9m at the eves and around 2.4m to the high point of the ceiling in the middle of a twin unit caravan. - on another channel - the restoration couple on TH-cam they are just about to build a cabin on 2 new static caravan chassis to comply with the caravan act on a smallholding they have just purchased…. Probably worth giving them a follow as that guy doesn’t make mistakes….
Thank you for your advice, I have horses which are currently on my parents land in Lancashire but keep looking at land up Scotland with intentions to make that move, I would be looking at buying enough land for grazing 3 horses plus additional for keeping them in hay throughout winter and a patch for crops
Just come across your channel and subscribed. Very interesting.
That is a really nice top!😅 Thanks for the great information
craig at the small farmer life has been covering this for a long time, that field to farm book the website you cant even register or comment, be good if you guys talked, he has actually done it
I’m aware the field to farm forum is down, but this system has been around since the 1980’s well before that guy wrote a book.
The book is just a good read, starting point and reference.
As with everything, we will all get different experience’s with planning officers etc
But it’s still a do able system as I’ve done it myself
Found this video thank you, one point to note on building and PD on agri/farm land is if its less/over 5 acres
Thank you so much for your advice. It's much appreciated 😊
Glad it was helpful!
I know nothing about all these processes apart from I want to become a farmer doing beef and goat farming but I am willing to learn and i will have to because soon I will start looking for agri/farm land to sart.
Just what I've been looking for, thanks.
Absolutely brilliant, thank you 😀
I paid for this book on their site and never received it. I don't know how to contact them as I've tried the address on the site and no joy. Not happy.
Another good video, it’s not easy and takes a lot of time and hard work but you need to try! If you’re successful it will be all worth it.
With so many small farms disappearing there should really be a new planning policy to establish small farms and rural businesses in suitable areas, wales has the one planet development…. I think the changes to converting barns in Scotland is one small step in the right direction!
Yes I agree with that , maybe allowing more small farms/Croft type businesses that require a rural base. Sadly it’s like a lot of things the big get bigger and the small disappear.
I’ll pm you regarding barns.
Great video. Thanks for this information 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant video, thanks a lot.
Thankyou 😃
We have bought 39 acres of agricultural land. I want to start agricultural business. Sadly, We have just discovered that our land is next the the local mayor and the councillor. There are 6 neighbours who live in front of this land. They do not want us there. They Always complain whatever we do. Especially, the grand son of the previous land owner who has sold the land to us, because He wants the land back so badly. Those people that you are talking about are so lucky , at least they have nice neighbours.
Is it a conservation area?
Doesn’t matter how many neighbours you have, if you have your permitted development rights intact you can use the prior approval route and neighbours don’t get notified so can’t object to you building your barn
We had lots of complaints off 2 neighbours about our caravan but we are still here 😝
@@livingoffgridinscotland Thank you so much for replying. I have made 5 Prior Notification applications and all have been refused. The council says I don't have agricultural business on land yet. They want the full planning permission application. They have refused the first full planning application, I have just submitted the second one (after the council has visited ) . I will hear within 1 more month. The mayor and councillor neighbour has represented other 5 neighbours that they concern about the road and our access is unsuitable. Well, let's see what will happen next.
@@จะสอนลูกอย่างไรดีนะ ah
Yes, I covered that in one of my videos, you need to get your agricultural holding number and business reference number to prove you’re starting a business then get animals on your land or they will refuse your prior approval applications
You could just start your business and wait 2 years and re submit under prior approval
@@livingoffgridinscotland Thank you so much, I will search for that video. 🙏🙏🙏
@@จะสอนลูกอย่างไรดีนะ as mentioned above. You gotta do it properly the unofficial way. Also watch small farmer on TH-cam to gain more knowledge before acting. Study it well. Also don't be put off by people in power. We took our neighbour over a hmo property she refused and tried so hard, who was an active councillor at the time, and defeated her. Play by the law and they can't do sh1t! Stand your ground.
Well said ! The only thing is the thing they call a police drone. So be aware. I agree in life we must take risks. To live a life with authenticity. Because of all the rules and regulations, and most of it is nonsense. Is a lot of dictionary garbage.
Good luck to all who try, l myself will most probably do the same in the near future, as I've been living in my van for the last few years since retirement. I'll probably opt for non constructible land though 🙏
Yes, hopefully the police have better things to do that use drones to look for people living off grid, but you never know, police in Scotland certainly don’t seem to like attending thefts and burglaries these days!
Your previous commenter was obviously talking about permitted development rights in Northern Ireland, which does indeed state there must be existing structures on the plot. On the plus side, permitted development rights come with much smaller holdings than in England, and also include the right to build a dwelling.
There are similar rights in crofting areas of Scotland at present and in our area we had a similar planning policy until 10years ago
Very helpful. Thank you. 👍🏼
They refused agricultural building (polytunnel) on 38 acres agricultural land. I started doing agricultural business with my bare hands. I could sell vegetables about 4,000£ this year 2022. I am making the appeal for polytunel. I do not know how it will end. Agricultural holding number and CPH are the same things?
Yes cog is holding number
What happened?
Sounds like you've got the same weather as us! Haha! It's been unreal in Dumfries and Galloway recently 🤦🏼♀️😬😬
It’s was filmed a few weeks ago, but we’ve had constant torrential rain.
We were carrying blocks up the stairs tonight in the dark and the rain was going sideways 🙄
@@livingoffgridinscotland it's been terrible today! The wind has been bad here in Glencaple. Our polytunnel has took a hammering a bit 😬😬
Those 2x4 roof rafters are massively overspanned. Please add a few post before they sag to the point where the roof will not shed water
They’re actually 3x2 larch, building is being knocked down in the summer, it’s been up nearly 20 years and not built by myself I must add…
Previous owner built them as “temporary” field shelters then concreted they floors etc
Excellent video
Thanks 🙏
I have a pocket of land 12mtr X 15mtr in the centre of the village I live in, it is in a conservation area and have been refused planning because its in a flood area, even though it has never flooded. Refused by the Highways, Environment and the council planning. What can I do??
Very little by the sounds of it
Great info mate: thanks!
Glad you found it useful
Do you ever get local hassle though? I mean, the main draw is doing my own thing. Is it too much to ask to buy somewhere and live there, albeit cheaply?If there are several houses with long established residents nearby, then it poses risks. How petty might those people be.
Yes we get local hassle, neighbours initially didn’t want us here, and now there is a certain degree of jealousy locally from a few people especially since we started doing TH-cam….
@@livingoffgridinscotland That's a shame.
Hi Richard i have a question how do you apply for council tax on agricutural land with no site address eny advice or help would be very very much appreciated ?
It’s a while since we did it, I think we phoned the council tax general enquiries line and they sent an assessor out “next time he was in the area” to confirm it was just a caravan, you’ll then get a bill
Even if you don’t have a proper address royal mail are duty bound to deliver council tax bills as the council have a contract with them…
@@livingoffgridinscotland Firstly can i just take a minute to thank you for replying to me its much appreciated. Am i right in thinking then that when i start paying council tax theres a 50 - 50 chance they will cotton on to the fact im trying to live on the land without planning?
@@mikesmith-yc3os yes, totally depends on the valuer from the council tax dept, whether they can be bothered reporting you to planning or whether they’re just happy to register you and take your money….
@@livingoffgridinscotland Thanks Richard its much appreciated.
Brilliant!
Much appreciated 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks
Great video, thanks 🙏. Obviously I need land for horses, but I don’t intend on raising livestock. I’d like a fruit and vegetable small holding. So would the planning officer just need to see my first crop of potatoes going into the ground?
Are you planning on living on site?
@@norocketsciencebuild5371 that’s the plan!
Brilliant thank you!!!!
What are you saying when you say you only need 2.5 acres,? Rent the rest? it doesn't sound like rent
Hi mate, thanks for the video, im new to this, just starting
One thing i didnt get, and would appreciate you explaining it again if you can, is with regards those 12,5acres. I dint quite get why i need 12,5. All i want is about 3-4.
Cheers mate!
In England you don’t have any permitted development rights unless you are managing 12.5 acres. 12.5 is the golden amount of land to be able to submit a prior approval application to build a barn and then be able to live on site and start a small business. Anything less than that amount would require a full planning permission application which would almost definitely be refused.
It’s working with the loopholes in our planning system.
Hope this makes sense.
@@livingoffgridinscotland cheers pal. It makes sense. Although iv heard some others saying that if the land is more of woodland rather than pasture, apparently there's no need for 12.5, but much less. Ill hv a look into that
Thanks a lot!
@@OvidiuGherasamescu yes woodland you can get away with less but it needs to be actual woodland
Argh, the lengths us peasants need to go to to have some land.
Interesting. Many thanks.
Thanks
We have 3.5 acres. I'm not sure we can go down the route of barn construction and living in a caravan as we don't have 12acres. What is the 2.5 acre rule you mentioned at the start and how can we apply this? Thanks
Where in the uk are you?
@@livingoffgridinscotland Cornwall
@@chrisbaker6911 what I outlined was renting the other land to make your land holding 12.5 acres or more so that then your can benefit from permitted development rights for agricultural holdings
@@livingoffgridinscotland thank you for your help and replying to me 👍
The book is currently £130 to buy ... bad times
It’s probably out of production just now…. £130 is stupid money
Thanks
Cheers
Why did you record this in a storm !!!
What about woodland? I have 4.9 acres...
Check your local planning website, but in most areas any woodland has permitted development rights to build a forestry building, obviously it needs to be suitable for the location and appropriate for the land you have
1st lol. Not long finished work, not fun today outside in the wind and rain but i'm home now sipping a vodka mmmm
😂
Vile today, we awoke to snow in County Durham, then had to drive home in the most horrendous weather… good delivery of bargain timber late afternoon though…
@@livingoffgridinscotland Can't beat a bit of bargain timber lol
@@paulrobinson3528 got all that for £3/length instead of £11/length
@@livingoffgridinscotland With the price of wood at the moment that is a fantastic saving. You must have used Heathers meals on wheels for the guys at the wood yard 🤣
How did you get power to your caravan? Thanks
Off grid solar system
Hi, I've watched all your videos which are very helpful and I was wandering if you no if they could still remove me off my land if i only had a very small amount of live stock and won't be making £18000 a year.in your video you said I would need to make a certain amount of money but I will only have a couple of acres (hopefully)? I have been told there are only a few occasions a person has ever been removed off there land for not abiding by council rules.? Thanks
It’s quite rare for council to physically evict people, especially after the total disaster of media coverage on the dale farm traveller eviction!!
The thing is you do need to genuinely be running a bone fide agricultural business and I’d always advise trying to keep your site clean and tidy and keep your head down and not annoy your neighbours!!
The people that get the most hassle are the good lifers that go on tv programmes like Ben fogle and live in a white static caravan in the middle of a green field surrounded by rubbish, junk, scrap cars and a blown down poly tunnel claiming to be self sufficient! 😂
@@livingoffgridinscotland thanks for the advice 👍
Hi mate been watching your TH-cam videos on certificate of lawfulness I've just purchased a piece of land with a caravan which has been on it for 15 years with a tenant living on it I managed to move the tenant out what's the chances I can get a licence on it Frank
You can apply for a certificate of lawfulness under the 10 year rule but you’ll need evidence the caravan has been there and occupied for that time…..
I bought the book some 25 years ago so I know how to do it, but I wouldn't do it in U.K. as the land is super expensive, the weather as gone badly wrong with global warming and the country is F........
@@robertlee6479 uk is done…. The new land reforms starmer is bringing in will end uk agriculture
If I had my time again I’d move to northern France or Southern Ireland…..
Have alteady moved 5 years ago to Portugal where there is so many abandoned farms that you don t the worry and land at 1970 prices in U.K. so do it, move.
so really the legal system is a mental prison
Hi, thanks for the video! Lot of questions been answered. Still a few points unclear though 🤦♀️ If the land we are buying already an agricultural land with buildings on it (has been abandoned for a few years) can I use the class Q conversion on one of the buildings? Obviously following all the class Q requirements, but without an agricultural business? It's in Scotland btw. Thanks in advance!
Yes you can apply for conversion under class q BUT the building must be “capable” of being converted, so it must have a concrete floor and must be enclosed (not a hay barn) and the structure must be structurally sound, obviously you could rectify some of these points prior to applying for conversion
Thanks for your reply! Yes, it has all those. I don't think it would be a problem. But does it work even if we don't have an agri business and don't want to do any business on it?
@@scotlandisawesome7499 yes, but make sure you have an agricultural holding number for the property as you’ll be asked for it as part of the application process
Thank you 👍
How hard is it to get planning to build stables and paddock on 7acer green belt land that has just been used for sheep like pasture land thanks in advance
It totally depends where in the uk you are, proximity to a settlement, conservation area etc
Great video its all bout what you do and what you say to people just need to remember loose lips sink ships
Really interesting thank you 🙏
Thanks 🙏
Where can I buy this book?
He’s got his own website, field to farm, also available on Amazon etc
@@livingoffgridinscotland just ordered one. Thanks
Thank you Richard. Purchased both books the last time I watched this very informative video. It’s such a shame that I’m not able to log in to David’s forum. It still has a wealth of knowledge all the same, and as you say, from a different perspective 👍
Windy there, look at the roof lifting 🤣 Storm Dudley by any chance?
Filmed a few weeks ago
It’s always windy here!
That old shed won’t last much longer
@@livingoffgridinscotland Good info there but i just want to find land ready to build on. Don't want the hassle, aggro and worry of everything you said there and i don't want pigs 🤣
@@paulrobinson3528 farm wild Deer 😝 or flying pigs 😉
@@livingoffgridinscotland I've seen flying pigs lol. Theonly animals i want on my land are my 2 gorgeous dogs lol. Alfie does like to chase Deer though so a Deer Farm would be his dream 😂
interesting 👍
Thanks
Does this apply to a forestry business?
The rules regarding permitted development rights to build a building, then your right to live on the land whilst building are the same, but to justify living there long term you’d need to be running a business that requires constant supervision such as small scale charcoal building.
Does this work within National Parks? They seem to trump everything!
The route to using prior approval depends if you have permitted development rights, you need to check this first, if you don’t you can still go down the full planning permission route to build an agricultural building and then live on site while building it, just slower and more tricky, planners would have more input into the building, like siting and materials used.
Interesting
need to run a successful argi business to live on land etc. too many rules, too long, too expensive. I’ll go abroad instead thanks.
Just popped over to Amazon to buy “field to farm” it’s £107 . Just thought I would let folks know.
I believe it’s out of publication just now hence people asking silly money for a secondhand book……
I have a small agricultural land which I purchased in 2020 at the beginning of the first lockdown as a second option in case I won't be able to pay rent. It has river frontage and water connected.. a caravan, vegetables, a boat, solar panels, wind turbine, apple trees all i need so I'll consider moving there really sick of paying rent and bills. I'll save £11k a year and stress free. The location is remote cannot be seen from the street but we had council coming here checking what's goin on. They couldn't do anything about i even informed them I'll build a wood house or a brick house come again here without my permission you'll be greeted by my pitbull and a baseball bat they never came again since april 2021 sure it's a rude thing to do but when it comes to survive I'll do anything to protect my ass
Can you record inside because all I can hear is rain. XD
Background noise?! Makes it unwatchable mate
Okay thanks for your comment
@jonny b'stard yeah, it was just a bit of rain noise, problem is we’re kind of used to the sound of rain on a tin roof living in a caravan, it probably annoys others more than it does me!
You have a leak.........
A leak??
@@livingoffgridinscotland yep can see drops as you talking.....
@@StrangerRecords yeah, that shed is being knocked down soon….. it was better that standing outside in the rain, the other sheds are too dark to film in this time of year
your sound is terrible 🙃