Glossary
Class Q
Permitted development rights to convert agricultural buildings into homes in England.
What it means
Class Q is a permitted development right in England that lets some agricultural buildings be converted into homes through prior approval rather than a full planning application. The council can only consider set matters, such as transport, noise, flood risk and whether the location is practical. There are limits on the number of homes, the floor space and the building's condition, and exclusions in some protected areas. The rules were widened in 2024; check current rules before you rely on them.
Worked example
ExampleA steel-framed barn with two homes approved under Class Q.
- Barn value as agricultural
- £40,000
- Value with prior approval
- £180,000
- Uplift
- £140,000 before costs
The building must be capable of conversion. A barn that needs rebuilding won't qualify.
Information, not advice. Example figures are fictional and for illustration only.