NPPF E4: Rural business development

E4: Rural business development 1. In applying policy E2, the sustainable growth of businesses in rural areas should be supported, including through: a. The conversion of existing buildings and well-designed new buildings; b. The development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based businesses; c. Facilities to support rural leisure and tourism and measures to retain and expand accessible local shops and services; and d. Development to maintain and enhance farm viability and sustainability and support domestic food production, such as improved accommodation for livestock, on-farm reservoirs, greenhouses, polytunnels, farm shops and temporary accommodation for seasonal workers (where this accommodation is ancillary to the agricultural use and not for permanent occupation). 2. Development proposals to meet business needs in rural areas may need to be located outside settlements, and in locations that are not well served by public transport. In these circumstances: a. Development proposals should take opportunities, where they exist, to use previously developed land, and sites that are physically well-related to existing development; and b. The siting and design of development should be appropriate having regard to the character of its surroundings. 43 8. Ensuring the vitality of town centres The objective of the policies in this chapter is to promote the long-term vitality and viability of town centres by prioritising them as locations for main town centre uses and allowing them to adapt to changing community and business needs, in a way which reflects their locally distinctive roles and opportunities. For the purpose of this chapter ‘town centres’ includes city, town, district and local centres as defined in the glossary at Annex B. Plan-making policies