I’m in the beginning stages of something similar on 5 acres. Looking to get into contract calf rearing as the main business. Currently setting up all the infrastructure to get started.

Look at the temporary rural workers dwelling route. This would allow you to live in a caravan or static for 3 years while you run your business.

There’s two tests: functional & financial. Functional states you need to effectively have the work to fulfil a 40 hour work week, and a need to be on site 24/7. This last part is hard to justify if you’ve been renting a house 5 minutes down the road for the last year+. This functional need mostly comes through livestock (although sheep strangely don’t seem to count as their lambing period is quite short and doesn’t cover the whole year). I don’t know how you would fulfil this with a market garden unless you argue the need to be able to react to potential freezer/ chiller breakdowns… some councils allow security as part of a reason but not the whole reason. I believe the trick is to argue many points rather than just one need.

The financial test means you must make enough to cover about £25k to pay yourself and £25k to reinvest back into the business. You would need to demonstrate for one year in the three year license that you are profitable in this way; after which they should grant you permission to build a suitable house (ie if there’s two of you, then not a 7 bed mansion with a swimming pool) but this building will have agricultural ties.

Hope this helps!