What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the easing of planning restrictions to allow for a greater number of redundant agricultural buildings to be converted into affordable housing?
Decisions on the appropriate re-use of redundant agricultural buildings are matters for local planning authorities when considering such planning applications, taking into account local circumstances and their relevant local development plan policies. The Welsh Government provides advice about the re-use of redundant rural buildings for residential purposes in Technical Advice Note 23 on Economic Development. This advises that local need for affordable housing is one of the factors that may be considered by local planning authorities when determining applications for the conversion of redundant rural buildings.
The current policy allows for local flexibility, and there are currently no plans to change it.