Removal of an Agricultural Occupancy Condition on a property in Maidstone

Maidstone Borough Council has removed an Agricultural Occupancy Condition off a property in rural Maidstone, after Bloomfields successfully argued that the condition was no longer enforceable and no longer relevant to the development.

This application made under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act formed the second phase in an approach to the removal of the AOC condition.  Which, included in the first instance, obtaining a Lawful Development Certificate for the use of a dwelling in non-compliance with the condition.

In addition to the LDC, a RICS Red Book Valuation of the property was then undertaken which identified the value of the property was out of scope of most agricultural and forestry workers.

This S73 application was well received by the Local Planning Authority, who agreed with the arguments put forward by Bloomfields.  The evidence provided to the Council enabled a swift and straightforward decision, which was granted within the statutory determination deadlines.