Policy information sourced from the East Herts District Plan

ED2 Rural Economy

In order to support sustainable economic growth in rural areas and to prevent the loss of vital sources of rural employment, proposals that create new employment generating uses or support the sustainable growth and expansion of existing businesses in the rural area will be supported in principle where they are appropriately and sustainably located and do not conflict with other policies within this Plan.

Proposals that consist of a change of use of agricultural or employment generating use in the rural area to other employment generating uses will be supported in principle subject to other policies within this Plan.

Where the proposal results in the loss of an agricultural or employment use in a rural area or a change of use to a non-employment generating use, evidence will be required to demonstrate that:

  • the current agricultural or employment use is no longer needed or viable;
  • that improvements to the site/premises would not make alternative employment generating uses viable;
  • the retention of the employment generating use is unable to be facilitated by the partial conversion to a non-employment generating use;
  • the building is of permanent and substantial construction.

Proposals for the diversification of farms will be supported in principle where:

  • they secure the viability of the agricultural practice of the farm;
  • they contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity or landscape interests;
  • they support the engagement of communities with land management, food production and rural crafts and the development of local produce markets;
  • the diversification remains a subsidiary of the overall agricultural activity of the holding;
  • any resultant retail or commercial use does not have an adverse impact on the viability of existing nearby rural or village shops or community facilities.

For more information please see the District Plan