planning permission

James and Isobel, with their two young children, recently bought their first farm, and plan to run beef and sheep over 13.8 hectares (34 acres), renting a further 44.5ha (110 acres). James works for tech firm Breedr as a product manager. You can follow them on Twitter @jpbwfarm

It follows a decision made by an inspector in relation to a planning appeal from a developer which had been refused consent for a solar farm on land in Somerset

Making changes to or erecting a building, or changing its use without planning permission carries big risks but there may be ways of making the development legally compliant.

85 per cent of respondents in a CLA survey said the planning system has hampered the growth of their business

The changes will allow people to create more residential dwellings as well as open new diversifications

For many farming families, a successful diversification can mean the difference between staying in the black and falling into the red. But achieving this success can often be frustrated by costly planning challenges. Shannon Fuller, Planning Advisor with the CLA, highlights the key considerations.

Patience and perseverance have finally paid off for tenant farmer Ralph Raynor in his quest to convert three redundant buildings into residential homes under Class Q Permitted Development rights.

The Government is extending permitted development rights to give farmers greater freedoms to diversify and convert agricultural buildings for commercial uses

Lower Pertwood Farm is a 2,800 acre arable unit in Hindon, Wiltshire

Ian Barnett, national land director of Leaders Romans Group warns of the perils of politics and land promotion