Policy information sourced from the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies

DP15: Agricultural Worker’s Dwellings in the Green Belt (outside the Defined Villages)

Temporary Dwellings

A. The siting of a new temporary agricultural worker’s dwelling in the Green Belt (outside the Defined Villages) will be permitted where:

  1. The new dwelling is essential to support a new agricultural activity, whether on an already established or newly-created complex;
  2. The applicant is able to demonstrate an essential, functional need for a new dwelling to house a full-time agricultural worker and that this need cannot be fulfilled by another existing dwelling on the complex, or any other suitable, available accommodation in the area;
  3. The applicant can demonstrate their intention to develop the enterprise based on a sound financial plan; and
  4. The proposal satisfies all other relevant Development Plan policies including DP7: ‘General Policy for New Development’.

B. A temporary agricultural worker’s dwelling will usually take the form of a caravan or mobile home and will normally be permitted for no more than three years. Where the agricultural enterprise is not yet fully established by the expiration of the temporary consent, or is insufficient to justify a permanent dwelling, an extension to the temporary consent will not usually be allowed.

C. If the enterprise is successfully established by the expiration of the temporary consent, temporary structures such as mobile homes will not normally be allowed to be retained on a permanent basis and should be replaced with a permanent dwelling.

D. Permission will not be granted for the erection of a temporary agricultural worker’s dwelling in a location where a permanent dwelling would not be permitted.

Permanent Dwellings

E. The construction of a new permanent agricultural worker’s dwelling in the Green Belt (outside the Defined Villages) will be permitted where:

  1. The applicant is able to demonstrate an essential, clearly established functional need for a new dwelling to house a full-time agricultural worker and that this need cannot be fulfilled by another existing dwelling on the complex, or any other suitable, available accommodation in the area;
  2. The unit and agricultural activity have been established for a minimum of three years (at least one of which has been profitable) and is demonstrably financially sound, both at present and for the prospective future;
  3. The proposed dwelling is of a size and type appropriate to the needs of the holding; and
  4. The proposal satisfies all other relevant Development Plan policies including DP7: ‘General Policy for New Development’.

F. The Council will impose agricultural occupancy conditions on all new agricultural workers’ dwellings. Where an additional dwelling on a farm holding is permitted, an occupancy condition may, in appropriate circumstances, be applied to the original farmhouse. The Council will also consider imposing conditions which restrict permitted development rights. Further extensions to agricultural workers’ dwellings will be considered on their functional need.

G. The Council may require an agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 preventing the sale of the dwelling or parts of the land separately from the land forming the holding.

For more information please see the Tandridge Local Plan Part 2: Detailed Policies