What Is Farm Diversification?
Farm diversification means using land, buildings or assets for new commercial uses alongside or instead of traditional farming. This can include farm shops, tourism, holiday lets, glamping, storage, renewable energy, equestrian uses, events or redevelopment.
Planning permission depends on the scale, location and impact of the proposal. Councils will consider traffic, landscape, ecology, noise, heritage, residential amenity, access and whether the use is appropriate in the countryside.
Some farms may have both diversification potential and wider strategic development potential, so it is important to assess the whole farm before pursuing one route.
Important points for farmers include:
Farm shops
This factor can materially affect whether farm land is suitable, valuable and capable of being promoted through planning.
Holiday lets
This factor can materially affect whether farm land is suitable, valuable and capable of being promoted through planning.
Glamping and tourism
This factor can materially affect whether farm land is suitable, valuable and capable of being promoted through planning.
Renewable energy
This factor can materially affect whether farm land is suitable, valuable and capable of being promoted through planning.
Commercial storage
This factor can materially affect whether farm land is suitable, valuable and capable of being promoted through planning.
Residential or mixed-use potential
This factor can materially affect whether farm land is suitable, valuable and capable of being promoted through planning.
Why This Matters for Farm Land Value
Farm land can have more than one type of value. Existing agricultural value reflects its current use, but development potential can create hope value or, if planning permission is achieved, a substantially different level of value.
For farmers, the most important step is understanding whether there is a realistic planning route before selling, signing an agreement or spending money on surveys.
The right planning strategy can protect your position and help maximise value.
How Value My Land Helps Farmers Diversify
Value My Land helps farmers understand the planning and development potential of their land before important decisions are made. We can assess the site, review planning policy, consider constraints, identify Local Plan opportunities and advise whether land promotion or a planning application may be suitable.
Where appropriate, we can help farmers explore routes that avoid upfront planning risk, including land promotion arrangements where planning work is funded and managed by the promoter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free Farm Land Review
Value My Land can review your farm land and advise whether there may be a planning, promotion or development value opportunity.
Farm Diversification Planning Guide
Find out whether your farm land could have development potential and what steps may help maximise its future value.