Policy information sourced from the Basildon Local Plan Saved Policies.
BAS GB6: Agricultural Workers Dwellings.
Planning permission will not normally be granted for new dwellings in the Green Belt. However, dwellings for agricultural workers may be permitted provided the Council is satisfied that it is essential for the proper functioning of the enterprise for one or more workers to be readily available day and night. In addition a financial test may be applied to assess whether the proposed unit is viable or, in the case of proposed operations, is likely to be viable.
In addition the local planning authority will need to be satisfied that:-
- the holding, either in its current extent or as part of a different holding, does not have a dwelling related to it, which could provide suitable accommodation, the occupancy of the new dwelling will be restricted by a condition;
- there are no settlements nearby which could provide suitable accommodation;
- the development shall have regard to the council’s development control guidelines;
- any dwellings granted planning permission on the basis of agricultural need, together with any existing dwelling on a farm holding, will be subject to the standard occupancy condition.
Applications for the re-use of agricultural buildings erected under permitted development rights within 4 years of their substantial completion will only be granted in very special circumstances.
In circumstances where the proliferation of farm buildings constructed under permitted development rights is having a seriously detrimental effect on the openness of the Green Belt within a particular area, the Council will attach a condition withdrawing permitted development rights for new agricultural buildings within that area.
For more information, please visit the Basildon Local Plan Saved Policies document.