5 Incredible Homes that Beat Tough Countryside Planning Rules

a paragraph 79 house in the lincolnshire wolds
(Image credit: Andy Haslam)

Typically, planning rules have aimed to deter people from building new homes in rural areas and on greenbelt land, however, there's a small exemption, sometimes called the 'Countryside Clause', in the National Planning Policy Framework which will permit homes to be built that meet a strict criteria. 

Once known as PPS7, then Paragraph 55, Paragraph 79 and now Paragraph 80, this clause has some subjective, hard-to-define requirements that makes it hard to predict whether homes will be able to gain planning consent. 

Hugh Metcalf

Hugh is editor of sister title Livingetc.com and former digital editor of homebuilding.co.uk. He has worked on a range of home, design and property magazines, including Grand Designs, Essential Kitchens, Bathrooms, Bedrooms and Good Homes. Hugh has developed a passion for modern architecture and green homes, and moonlights as an interior designer, having designed and managed projects ranging from single rooms to whole house renovations and large extensions. He's currently renovating his own Victorian terrace in Essex, DIYing as much of the work as possible. He's recently finished his kitchen renovation, which involved knocking through walls, and landscaping a courtyard garden, and is currently working on a bathroom renovation.