PLANNING restrictions on farms and farming properties hark back to the Dark Ages – or so it would seem!
A prime example is the 465 square metre restriction on the erection of farm building without planning permission.
That might have been acceptable 30 or 40 years ago, but is clearly inadequate in this day and age. As it is, the 1000 square metre limit proposed by NFU Scotland to the Scottish Government's planning review is, if anything, a tad on the conservative side!
We all know there will be threats and opportunities post Brexit. We just do not know what they will be. 
In an inevitably quick moving environment, it will be essential for farmers to take, and implement, quick business decisions.
The nightmare of having to comply with the rigmarole and delay of local council planning departments over the erection of even the most rudimentary building, will lead to many a would-be scheme being shelved by an exasperated farmer, no matter how good the idea was.
In addition, the granting of permission to build a house for farming family members or for farm employees should be a given a presumption in favour status, with the onus placed on objectors having to prove conclusively that any proposed dwelling house would have a detrimental effect to the local area.