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So my dad bought a field and, after protracted probate nonsense finally got moved in towards autumn last year. The purpose was to have somewhere he could safely run the dogs (2 wolfhounds and a retriever/shepherd cross), grow some stuff and generally keep himself busy. He then proceeded to, naively, site a 20ft container to securely store equipment and touring caravan on the field believing that as they were temporary structures there was no issue (there was also a fresh built playpark thing for my daughter but that's the least of our issues).
Fast forward to today and he recieved a visit from the planning enforcement officer who told him that as it was agricultural land it would all have to be moved as someone had complained in November and again last month. God knows who as the adjacent farmers knew what he was up to and even helped him with some stuff, if it was either of them then I'd be surprised. The general attitude of the officer comes across as someone who was going out their way to frustrate rather than assist so really we have no idea what to do. Change of use application to smallholding was suggested but "that may not be granted". Caravan for shelter was met with a "I got rid of six in another field, if we let one in they all want in" and it was suggested that it's not appropriate to run dogs in an enclosed field (yes, we're aware of lambing issues).
Does anyone have any advice on the best way forward? The caravan can certainly be moved for the time being (well, once we get the sodding thing out the field, may need a tractor for that) but the container is a whole other issue.
I've looked at Part 6 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 and from what I can see there shouldn't be any issue with the container if it is classed as a permanent structure (the field is 8 acres which is well over the minimum 0.4ha clause).
In England, at least, you can put up an agricultural building without planning AFAIA. I can see the caravan causing issues but not so sure about the container.
TBH the play area and caravan might look, to someone looking in from the outside, that he was trying to live there.
What stuff does he need to keep secure? Could this be achieved with something more agricultural rather than industrial?
It has to be a working farm to qualify for agricultural PD.
Get one of the farmers to graze some sheep for a while