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😱 All the things English farmers can do that would be illegal in Norway. I visited farms in Norway and Sweden earlier this month to see what we can learn from their planning system on farms. I came home surprised thinking English farmers don’t realise how good they have it. Here’s what I found:
1️⃣ NORWAY has a law called the driveplikt.
If you own agricultural land, you are legally required to farm it.
There’s also a boplikt — a duty to actually live on the farm or face an eviction from the State.
Diversification into commercial use? Possible, but slow. The presumption always runs in favour of continued farming.
2️⃣ SWEDEN went the other way.
Farmers can erect agricultural buildings with almost no formal approval process and it’s heavily deregulated.
But convert a redundant building to a home or commercial unit?
Nearly impossible. Several farmers I met had buildings sitting empty that they couldn’t convert, couldn’t demolish economically, and couldn’t use for anything else.
England sits between these two extremes — and most farmers don’t realise how much flexibility that gives them.
Under Part 6 of the GPDO:
1,500 sq.m of farm buildings every 2 years.
Unlimited hardstanding (subject to agri justification)
Under Class Q:
→ Up to 10 dwellings per agricultural unit → Up to 1,000 sq m of floor space → Prior approval only — not full planning permission → As little as 8 weeks to get through
Under Class R: → Agricultural buildings to commercial use → Same 1,000 sq m cap → Again — prior approval, not full planning
A Norwegian farmer would look at Class Q and find it remarkable.
A Swedish farmer with a barn full of unused potential would too.
The problem isn’t the English planning system.
The problem is most farmers haven’t reassessed their holdings since the May 2024 changes came in of the GPDO.
If you farm in England and haven’t looked at what Class Q or Class R might unlock, or you’re just curious about what agri buildings you could build — now is the time.
What’s your experience with permitted development on farms? Have the 2024 changes made a difference? Curious? Comment SCANDI and I will send you a link to everything I found out that will help your farm 👇

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