3 Two Categories of Development Rights

12.60 The development rights conferred by Sch 2, Part 6 of the General Development Order are divided into two broad categories:

Class A: development on agricultural units of 5 hectares or more; and

Class B: development on units of less than 5 hectares.

12.61 There is now no separate class of development right for fish farming – prior to 2 January 1992 this was dealt with by a separate Class C. Fish farming development is dealt with in Classes A and B alongside other kinds of agricultural development right.

12.62 Mineral working for agricultural purposes is now given permission by a separate Class C, subject to conditions.

12.63 The rationale underlying these provisions, which were re-modelled in 1992, is to impose more stringent conditions of control on development on small farms of less than 5 hectares, while imposing notification requirements on many permitted developments on larger holdings.