Re: Erection of an Agricultural Building, Ballakeigh Farm, Bride.
The applicant, Mr Christian of Ballakeigh farm Ltd, is seeking to erect a new Agricultural Building in Field 114404 for the housing of livestock. I would be grateful if, in assessing the application, you could consider the following points:
The farming business is based around 650 acres of which 150acres is cultivated for cropping with the remainder in grass.
Stocking includes 60 dairy cows, 100 suckler cows, 300 young stock plus 550 ewes which are lambed in February and March.
As a result, the farming business has a labour demand of approximately 6.26 standard labour units.
The business is looking to erect a new livestock building $36.57 \mathrm{~m} \times 15.24 \mathrm{~m}$ ( 13.716 m plus a 1.5 m overhang) which will stand 4.57 m high to the eves and be contiguous with the existing buildings.
As a result, the applicant wishes to remove three sycamore trees and 12 m of exiting hedge to improve access.
The lost trees will be replaced by the planting of 10 new trees ( 3 beech, 3 Sycamore and 4 Oak) to the rear of the proposed shed, extending the existing wooded area.
Currently the suckler cows are all out wintered along with a number of older finishing cattle. The proposed building will provide $501.7 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$ for the housing of stock. The existing buildings currently provide $1560 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$ where as there is a demand from the cattle alone of $2298 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$. With the proposed building, a short fall of $213 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$ exists. There are further buildings on the farm dedicated to the housing of the dairy herd.
The provision of the proposed building will allow for reduced outwintering of stock, increased grass production and simpler, easier management with more stock being located on site.
The proposed building will be clad with Yorkshire boarding style wood above a concrete wall.
The building will be fitted with an open protected ventilated ridge as per DEFA guidelines for livestock housing.
Roof water will be piped into existing drainage.
Worksheet for calculation of Standard Labour unit requirements
Produced by the Agriculture Directorate of Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. These standards figures are sourced from the SAC Farm Management Handbook 25th edition, published September 2004, page 281
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