The CLA welcomed the Welsh Assembly Government’s announcement on planning guidance, designed to boost the rural economy and increase the provision of affordable housing.
Launched at the Royal Welsh Show yesterday, Technical Advice Note 6 (TAN 6) – "Planning for Sustainable Rural Communities" makes it easier for businesses to set up in rural areas and helps enterprises already located in the countryside to grow.
CLA President William Worsley said: "Relaxing planning rules was first mooted by CLA Wales at the Royal Welsh Show in 2008 and I am delighted that the TAN 6 has come about as a direct result of CLA lobbying.
"This new guidance provides a real opportunity to increase the supply of affordable housing in rural Wales and provide reliable stock for the future. It will help to ease the housing needs of retiring farmers by allowing second homes on farms and other established rural enterprises to facilitate the handover of the business to a younger farmer."
The President added: "The CLA is now calling for England to follow Wales’ example by relaxing its planning laws to allow second homes to be built on established farms. This is particularly important in the Uplands which have very low handover rates because younger farmers are not able to live close to or on site at the farming businesses they are running or managing."
