Farm Planning Consultants in the South West

Rural and farm planning consultants across the South West

Foxes Rural is a specialist team of rural planning consultants and farm planning consultants working with farmers, landowners and rural estates across the South West of England. From the dairy and livestock farms of Devon and Somerset to the mixed holdings of Dorset and the coastal farms of Cornwall, we help agricultural businesses unlock the development potential of their land. Whether you are planning a new agricultural building, considering a Class Q barn conversion or developing a diversification scheme, our farm planning consultants guide every application from first idea to final approval.

The South West is one of the most important livestock and dairy regions in the country, with a landscape that ranges from rich pasture to protected moorland and coastline. With Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, two National Parks and busy rural planning authorities, getting the right planning advice early makes the difference between a smooth approval and a costly refusal. We combine deep knowledge of agricultural permitted development with practical experience of how planning officers across the region make decisions.

Agricultural permitted development across the South West

Agricultural permitted development rights allow many South West farms to build new buildings, form tracks and undertake engineering works without a full planning application, provided the conditions of Part 6 of the GPDO are met. Our rural planning consultants advise on Class A rights for holdings of five hectares or more and Class B rights for smaller units, helping you confirm whether prior approval is required before work begins. Used correctly, permitted development can save a South West farm business significant time and cost; used incorrectly, it can trigger enforcement action.

We regularly prepare prior approval applications for livestock buildings, silage and slurry stores, grain stores and farm tracks across the region's dairy, beef and mixed holdings. Our team understands the siting, scale and design tests that councils across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset apply, including the additional sensitivities of Dartmoor and Exmoor, and we make sure your scheme is lawful from the outset.

Farm buildings and new agricultural development

From modern dairy parlours and cubicle housing to grain stores, machinery sheds and livestock buildings, South West farms need buildings that work for a demanding livestock industry. Where a scheme falls outside permitted development, our farm planning consultants prepare full planning applications supported by agricultural justification, landscape and heritage assessments and a clear case on functional need. We work across the Devon and Somerset levels, the Blackdown and Mendip Hills, the Cornish coast and the Dorset downs with a full understanding of local landscape policy.

Farm diversification planning in the South West

Diversification is central to the future of farming in the South West, a region that welcomes millions of visitors each year. We advise on farm shops, holiday lets and glamping, wedding and event venues, equestrian facilities, rural offices, farm cafes, cider and dairy enterprises and renewable energy schemes. Our rural planning consultants help you build a diversification strategy that strengthens the farm business while satisfying planning policy on sustainability, highways and landscape impact.

The farming districts we work across

The South West covers a large area with a high level of farming planning activity. Our team regularly works across districts including:

• Mid Devon
• North Devon and Torridge
• South Hams
• West Devon
• Cornwall
• Somerset West and Taunton
• South Somerset
• Sedgemoor and the Somerset Levels
• Mendip
• Dorset and West Dorset

We also advise farmers around the principal towns and cities of the region, including Exeter, Taunton, Truro, Bodmin, Barnstaple, Tiverton, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Wells, Glastonbury, Dorchester, Bridport, Launceston and Plymouth.

A region built on farming

The South West's farming reputation is showcased every year at the Devon County Show near Exeter, the Royal Cornwall Show at Wadebridge and the Royal Bath and West Show at Shepton Mallet, three of the most important agricultural events in the country. The region is home to landmark food and farming businesses such as Yeo Valley in Somerset, a host of celebrated cheese and cider makers, and influential rural voices including high-profile estates and family farming partnerships. The region also has a strong presence of the National Farmers' Union and active county agricultural societies.

As members and supporters of the farming community, we work alongside the guidance of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and other farming bodies to make sure our planning advice reflects the realities of running a modern rural business in the South West.

How we compare to other rural planning firms

Farmers in the South West have a choice of advisers, including national consultancies and land agency firms such as Acorus, The Rural Planning Co, The Rural Planning Practice, Stags, Greenslade Taylor Hunt and other regional planning and land agents. What sets Foxes Rural apart is our single-minded focus on farm planning: we are rural planning consultants first, and we measure our success by the approvals we secure for working farms. We offer clear advice, fixed expectations and a track record of unlocking development that other firms have turned down.

Talk to a farm planning consultant in the South West

If you farm in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset and want to understand what your land can deliver, speak to our rural planning consultants today. We offer an initial review of your site and a clear plan for the best planning route, whether that is agricultural permitted development, a Class Q conversion, new farm buildings or a diversification scheme. Call Foxes Rural on 01206 481981 to start the conversation.