Policy J/RE: Supporting the rural economy

1. The change of use or adaptation of buildings in the countryside for employment use will be acceptable provided the following apply: 

  a. The buildings are structurally sound, not makeshift in nature and are of permanent, substantial construction; 

  b. The buildings are capable of re-use without materially changing their existing character or impact upon the surrounding countryside 

2. The replacement of suitably located, existing buildings for employment uses with new buildings of permanent design and construction in the countryside will be acceptable where it would bring about environmental improvement, and result in a more sustainable development. 

3. For permission to be granted for any change of use, adaptation or replacement of buildings: 

  a. They must be well designed and their form, bulk and general design in scale and character with their rural surroundings. 

  b. Incidental uses such as car parking and storage should be accommodated within the group of buildings, or on well related land where landscaping can reduce the visual impact of the new site. 

  c. Employment generated must be in scale with the rural location. Developments resulting in significant numbers of employees or visitors must only be located near to larger settlements or accessible by public transport, cycling, or walking. Proposals which would have a significant adverse impact in terms of the amount or nature of traffic generated will be refused. 

4. Well-conceived diversification schemes to support agricultural and other land-based rural businesses, will be permitted if: 

  a. They are consistent in scale with their rural location; 

  b. Existing buildings are reused where possible; 

  c. Any new development is part of an existing group of buildings; 

  d. A Business Plan, submitted with the planning application, demonstrates how the proposal will support the continued viable operation of the agricultural and other land based rural businesses. 

The policy seeks to support the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well- designed new buildings. 

Whilst some development types can take place as permitted development under the General Permitted

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Order or via a prior approval process, it is important that where planning permission is required the plan controls the scale of development in the countryside where large scale development would be unsustainable. Rural buildings, such as farm buildings no longer needed for agriculture, provide opportunities for conversion for employment uses in the district, and provide a way of supporting the rural economy and making best use of an existing resource. 

The plan also needs to support land-based businesses and farms to continue to thrive whilst protecting the quality and distinctiveness of the local landscape and ensuring development is sustainable. To do this many have diversified into other business areas. They also need to continue to adapt to respond to climate change and to new Government funding schemes. It is important that diversification proposals are well founded in terms of effectively contributing to the sustainability of the existing agricultural business and the rural economy and integrating new activities into the environment and the rural scene. 

Farmers are required to submit a Business Plan with any planning application for diversification. This should include details of existing farm activities, the need for diversification, details of the proposal and implications of the proposal on, for example, the rural economy and the environment. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  Topic Paper 6 : Jobs (2025)

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.