Dr Julian Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Lewis on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if it remains Government policy that barn conversions to dwellings without the need for planning permission will not be permitted in national parks; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles

As I outlined in my Written Ministerial Statement of 6 March 2014, Official Report, Column 51WS, the permitted development right for the change of use from an agricultural building to a dwellinghouse does not apply in national parks. There are no plans to change this. However, we have been clear that we expect national parks and other local planning authorities to take a positive and proactive approach to sustainable development, balancing the protection of the landscape with the social and economic well-being of the area.