§ 26. Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take further steps to ensure that planning authorities respond positively and quickly to applications for the alternative use of redundant farm buildings.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOur planning policy since 1980 has been that permission should be granted for the conversion of redundant farm buildings to alternative uses unless there are specific and convincing planning objections. We re-emphasised this most recently in two planning policy guidance notes entitled "Green Belts" and "Rural Enterprise and Development", issued on 20 January. We continue to urge planning authorities to process all planning applications as quickly as possible.