Selfsufficientish.com

Hello everyone,

We have run into a problem with our sheep, and could do with some advice.....

This maybe more of a planning issue, but I thought I would post this here, as it may well effect others.

Here's the scenario: We have about 7 acres of land in North Wales, old farm house, out buildings etc. During the course of our "getting greener and more 'ish" we have taken in Chickens, Ducks and in May, Sheep. As well as a poly tunnel, a tractor and so on.

Anyway, I phoned the local Council this morning, to discuss whetehr or not I needed planning permission for a shed I want to put up. In the course of that conversation, Imentioned that I was also planning on putting up a stock shelter for our sheep. Particularly as we live at altitude and the winters can be quite bad.

Not only do I need planning permission for my shed, (I thought I might, details in the buildings section) but I need it for a stock shelter. So a little box made of corrugated iron, about 3 foot high and 5 foot square needs £350 worth of planning application ! Yes said the Council official ! What the **** is this all about ?

Anyone else run into this sort of claptrap ?

Adrian

You should be allowed some permitted development as long as it is not too big. Best reading the local policy to find out. A stock shelter can be cannily hidden by using turf to give it a green roof and sides. Try building it into a sloping hill.

What if you made it a movable object? A small shed like that should easily be moved to a different position, if the council insists... I thought planning permission was only necessary for permanent buildings.

Yes I think Ina's right, stick a couple of wheels on it and it's a portable structure.
I don't know if Wales is different to England, but that certainly used to be the case.
In amateur radio circles it was well known that it was next to impossible to get planning permission for an aerial tower, but mount it on a trailer and it's exempt.
Of course things could have changed in the 15 years I've been away.

Luckily here in Ireland all agricultural buildings are exempt including polytunnels and greenhouses.

Yep even in France you can get away without permission from the Mairie if it's a portable field shelter!

Are you in a national park, or an area of outstanding natural beauty (well yeah, the welsh hills obviously) These places often have there own very strict rules, and often for good reason.

If not... get a second opinion because a structure of less tan 2m tall and less than 350 sq ft (or something along those lines) rarely needs any kind of planning permission.... hence why every one can put up sheds and green houses without it costing a bomb in PP fees.

I would definitely get a second opinion. I put up a huge summerhouse, over 20ft long and 10ft wide and didn't need planning permission (in England and definitely not in an AONB) as it was timber, not attached to the house and a certain distance from the road.

Also I believe that there are rules for agricultural land which says that you don't need planning permission for agricultural buildings. Is your land designated as agricultural or pasture? It might make it easier.

Cheers
Zoe

Is it a stock shelter or a tool shed that the sheep happen to walk into?