Country Land & Business Association (CLA) Deputy President Mark Bridgeman wrote a piece in the Yorkshire Post arguing that it is important for planning reforms to benefit rural communities, as employers are reviewing their home working policies and questioning the need for expensive rented offices in cities

He pointed to research showing that estate agents are reporting increased enquiries from urban-dwellers seeking an escape to the countryside, whilst career service Escape the City has reported how the number of jobseekers looking for work in rural locations has doubled.

Bridgeman called for the Prime Minister to encourage and facilitate the shift by reforming the planning systems to enable rural business owners to convert countryside buildings into modern offices.

He argued that the needs of the rural economy should be a higher priority in the National Planning Policy Framework, and there must be greater use of ‘permission in principle’ rules for proposals with demonstrable economic benefit.

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Yorkshire Post - Planning reform must support job creation and economic growth in rural areas - Mark Bridgeman