There was a 38% increase in the number of sheds granted planning permission in 2025, new Central Statistics Office (CSO) data shows.
A total of 1,283 applications for new builds, alterations and extensions were granted planning permission last year. This compares to a figure of 946 for 2024.
Strong commodity prices in both dairy and drystock combined with changes to TAMS III which gave slurry storage a separate ceiling as well as a flat rate grant of 60% for all farmers is the likely reason for such increases.
Of the 1,283 applications, a total of 1,101 were attributed to new developments, while a further 135 referred to applications in relation to extensions.
The remaining 47 applications related to planning permission granted for alteration of existing farm infrastructure.
The gross area of planning permissions rose in tandem with the number of applications.
A total area of 764,000m² was granted for new builds and extensions 2025, up from 515,000m² in 2024 and 2023’s figure of 583,000m². While a dramatic increase has been seen in the 2025 area, it is still some way off the 2021 area of 958,000m².
On a per-application basis for new builds and extensions, the average floor area equates to 618m², up from the 2025 figure of 544.4m².
The south has dominated yet again in the total number of applications granted in 2025, with a total of 549 applications.
The west and midlands saw 365 applications granted while the east and midlands saw just 192 applications approved.
A restructuring of rules in late 2025 surrounding exemptions for slurry storage and an increase in the area whereby exemptions can be used for agricultural buildings to 300m² combined with a reduction in dairy profitability will likely lead to a fall off in applications in 2026.
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