HC Deb 27 January 1947 vol 432 cc141-2W
Colonel Ropner

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware of the difficulties which are being put in the way of farmers who desire to erect new farm buildings with their own labour; and whether he will take steps to secure that the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Interim Development) Act which require architects' plans for such buildings, together with site and block plans in triplicate, are modified so as to enable a farmer who wishes to erect a calf box or a range of pigsties to do so without going to the unnecessary trouble and expense of employing an architect.

Mr. Silkin

I am aware of the difficulties which some farmers are experiencing in complying with the existing statutory planning requirements, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, with a view to the issue of an Order varying the Town and Country Planning (Interim Development) Order, 1946, to allow certain farm structures of the kind referred to to be erected, subject to certain safeguards, without planning permission. At the same time, I should like to draw attention to the proviso to Article 10 of the 1946 Order, which clearly states that plans and drawings other than a site plan need not be furnished in any case where the proposed development is sufficiently described by the particulars forwarded with the site plan.