§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what guidelines and advice exist for local authorities when determining planning applications for farm shops situated within the green belt;
(2) what guidelines and advice exist for local authorities when determining planning applications to permit retailing in farm shops situated in the green belt; and what proportion of goods sold can be the produce of neighbouring farms.
§ Mr. BaldryAdvice on development control matters within the green belt is given in planning policy guidance note 2. Paragraph 13 of that document states that approval should not be given, except in very special circumstances, for the construction of new buildings or for the change of use of existing buildings for purposes other than uses appropriate to a rural area.
It is normally assumed that the use of a farm shop only for the sale of goods produced on that farm is a use which is ancillary to the use as a farm not requiring planning permission, whereas use as a farm shop selling a significant amount of "imported" produce amounts to a use in its own account and is therefore subject to planning control. This advice is contained in paragraph B2 of annex B to planning policy guidance note 7.
It will be for that local planning authority to take this advice into account, together with all other material planning considerations, in making planning decisions concerning farm shops in green belts.