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While concerns around ammonia emissions have made it more difficult for farmers to obtain planning permission for new livestock sheds, each case is different and largely dependent on location, farmers were told at a UFU meeting in Dungannon on Monday night.
The advice from UFU senior policy officer Aileen Lawson is to seek some expert opinion – architect firms who specialise in farm buildings can give a good indication as to whether a planning application is likely to succeed.
At present, the thresholds are highest for farmers close to EU designated sites, said Lawson. Those EU sites include Special Areas of Conservation (54 bogs, loughs and mountains across NI) and Special Protection Areas (20 sites which include Lough Neagh, Strangford Lough and Upper Lough Erne). Where a new livestock building is proposed close to one of these sites, Shared Environmental Services (SES), the body which advises councils on planning issues, will assess the application.
In July 2019, SES produced new guidance, which effectively made it difficult for farmers within 7.5km to obtain planning permission. In November 2019, the UFU launched a legal challenge against this decision, pointing out that it was done without any prior consultation.
Those farmers who are not close to an EU designated site are potentially more likely to be successful with a planning application.
In these cases, NIEA will consider the proximity of the new build to other designated habitats (non-EU designated), and advise planners. The threshold it currently sets for ammonia is not as high as SES, but is still challenging in most areas.
Permitted development
The other option for farmers is to keep new sheds below 500sq m and make use of permitted development.
However, various conditions must be met, and farmers should note that it is a maximum of 500m2 over a two-year period, not just for one individual shed. This may not be an option for those close to EU designated sites.
SHARING OPTIONS: