Lots of farms require employees to be available around the clock to oversee livestock and manage other operations. With limited options for housing in the countryside, commuting can be a time-consuming and frustrating journey for many farm workers. One potential solution to this issue is to construct a rural worker's dwelling on the farm premises or nearby.

Are you considering adding employee accommodation to your property? This post will explore what rural workers' dwellings are, the benefits they can provide, and the steps you need to take for the planning permission process.

Rural workers' dwellings are homes that offer on-site accommodation for farmhands. These dwellings help reduce commute times and provide a place for workers to sleep during unpredictable call-out hours, which makes it easier for them to respond to unexpected tasks and emergencies.

There are several types of structures you can build on your land to accommodate workers.

Temporary structures can provide the necessary space without making permanent changes to your property and are generally easier to obtain planning permission for. Examples of temporary structures include caravans, shipping containers, portable cabins, and more.

Alternatively, for a more permanent solution, you may want to convert an existing structure, such as a barn, or construct buildings from the ground up to meet your farm's long-term worker housing needs. When applying for planning permission, converting existing buildings into dwellings rather than constructing new ones tends to provide better approval odds.

Plans to build new dwellings in open countryside generally meet considerable resistance from local planning authorities. Dwellings placed near existing structures are typically viewed more favourably. If you intend to develop new buildings on open land, your planning application needs to address concerns related to ecology, impact on the land's character, traffic impact, etc.

As part of your planning application, you may need to provide evidence of the need for rural worker accommodation. For instance, you might be asked to demonstrate that there are enough tasks on the farm for the worker to perform. Some examples of evidence could include:

• A business plan realistically outlining the operations and scale of the business.
• Financial records and forecasts.
• Documents showing current employees and projected staffing needs.
• The number of livestock, poultry , horses, etc. on the farm.
• Evidence to demonstrate that round-the-clock machinery maintenance is required.
• Documents evidencing the unpredictable working hours for employees.
• Proof that there are no other accommodation options already available.

If there are alternative settlements nearby where workers could live and commute, you will likely need to make a strong argument as to why these can't be used as an alternative.

In some instances, rural workers' dwellings are subject to occupancy conditions. This means that there are restrictions on who can live in the building. Occupancy conditions can vary from property to property; however, it is generally the case that only those formally employed to aid in farm operations will be permitted to reside in the dwelling. Due to these limitations, occupancy conditions can make it more challenging to sell your property in the future.

In most areas, any rural workers dwellings built will need to ensure that they are not excessive. They should be built correspondingly to the needs of the business. For example, if only one labourer is required, the building should reflect this and not be excessive in size.

Typically, any rural workers' dwellings built will need to ensure they are not excessive. They should be constructed correspondingly to the needs of the business. For example, if only one farmhand is required, the building should reflect this and not be excessive in size.

If you keep horses on your property as a part of your business operations (such as for training or breeding), you may be able to provide a case to your local planning authority as to why you require rural workers dwellings. You will need to demonstrate that there is a need for someone to be on site 24/7 (for example, for foaling or health monitoring) and that you require long-term support with your operations.

If you suspect that you may need to create accommodation for a live-in labourer soon, it's important to ensure that you start taking steps towards getting your project underway as quickly as possible. Getting your project approved by your local planning authority can be time-consuming, so it's helpful to allow plenty of time before these facilities are necessary for your farm operations.

At Punchard Group, we specialise in rural planning. We understand the complexities of building on agricultural or equestrian land, and we can work with you to create a planning application that sets your project up for the highest odds of approval by your local planning authority.

For clients based in Derbyshire and surrounding counties, we can travel to you to assess your site in person. We can also remotely assist clients further afield across the UK with their planning applications.

We offer a free initial consultation where we will discuss your plans with you and help you get clear on the next steps needed to put your project into motion. To book a call with our team, enter your details on our contact page, and we will be in touch shortly.