Rural Development: Planning Maps for a New Shed

Prove the use and select the application route

For an agricultural or forestry route, establish the lawful unit, holding area, proposed agricultural purpose, dimensions, siting and whether the work is reasonably necessary for that use. England's Part 6 rights contain limits, exclusions and prior-approval procedures; they do not make every farm building permitted development. Domestic, equestrian, diversification and general commercial storage can require different applications.

Ask the authority to confirm the correct form and fee before submission. Do not start work while a prior-notification or prior-approval process is unresolved, and do not assume a planning map alone proves eligibility.

Map the shed as part of an operational rural site

A rural location plan may need 1:2,500 coverage to show the holding, roads and access. The detailed site plan, often at 1:500 or 1:200, should distinguish the proposed footprint and every associated work from existing buildings and hardstanding.

• Application boundary, wider ownership and access to the highway
• Shed footprint, dimensions and distances to boundaries and buildings
• Apron, hardstanding, parking, loading and turning
• Existing and proposed tracks, gates and visibility where relevant
• Trees, hedges, watercourses, drainage and landscape features
• Neighbouring homes and other sensitive uses

Show scale, appearance and levels

Provide floor, roof and all elevation drawings with eaves, ridge, openings and materials. Use sections and existing/proposed levels for a large building, cut-and-fill platform or sloping site. State the intended storage, livestock or operational use and identify any external plant, tanks, feed bins, lighting or drainage works.

A topographical survey is often needed to design a large platform and drainage correctly. An OS map or title plan does not supply measured levels.

Identify rural impact and BNG evidence

Depending on the route and site, the authority may need an agricultural justification, landscape and visual material, drainage or flood-risk evidence, ecology surveys, tree and hedgerow information, access or transport evidence, noise or odour details, lighting, heritage or archaeology and contamination information.

Development granted through an England permitted-development right is outside the statutory BNG condition. A full planning application can be in scope subject to current exemptions; from 6 August 2026, the exemption for a site no larger than 0.2 hectares applies only if no onsite priority habitat is impacted.

Check the national agricultural regime

Agricultural and forestry permitted-development rules are not UK-wide. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland use their own legislation, thresholds, protected-area provisions and notification procedures. Even within one nation, the authority's local validation list determines what supporting information is reasonable for a full application.