Farm and Rural Business Diversification Planning

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of farm and rural business diversification in the UK. This practice involves expanding beyond traditional agricultural activities and seeking new opportunities to generate additional income through alternative ventures.

The main diversified activity in 2021/22 is letting out buildings for non-agricultural use, with almost half (47%) of farms in England engaging in this activity, with an average annual enterprise income of £22,300. The second most common form of diversified activity in England is land use for solar energy at 22% of farms, with an average annual income of £4,900.

The UK government has recognised the importance of diversification in sustaining rural economies and has implemented planning policies to facilitate it.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the government’s planning policies for England and requires local authorities to consider the economic benefits of diversification when making planning decisions. It recognises that diversification can provide additional income streams for farmers and landowners, support local employment, and improve the resilience of rural communities.

Gaining Planning Consent

If you are looking to diversify rural land or outbuildings Knightsbridge Planning can play a key role in helping you gain planning consent in, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Planning permission: Many types of diversification, such as agritourism, renewable energy production, and food and drink production, may require planning permission. Knightsbridge can help to navigate the planning process and ensure that they meet all relevant regulations and requirements.
• Site analysis: We can conduct a site analysis to assess the suitability of the farm for different types of diversification. This may involve considering factors such as access to utilities, transport links, and the local market.
• Feasibility Assessment: Before embarking on a new diversification project, it is important to conduct a feasibility study to assess its viability. Our feasibility assessments are designed to help farmers analyse market trends, assessing competition, and evaluating potential revenue streams.

Farm and rural business diversification is a vital aspect of sustaining rural economies in the UK. If you are looking to seek out new opportunities, find out more on how Knightsbridge Planning can help you and your diversification projects simply give a us a call on 01257 826 592 or drop us a message using our website form.

We would love to sit down and discuss your options and how we can help you fulfil your sites potential.