www.ruralbusinessconsultancyItd.com 16th August 2018
Re: Extension of an Agricultural Building and Installation of a Visibility Splay, Ballakeigh Farm, Bride.
The applicant, Mr Christian of Ballakeigh farm Ltd, is seeking to erect an extension to an existing agricultural building for the storing of animal feeds and machinery along with improving the farm lane exit visibility onto the main road. 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 recently applied to erect a new livestock building ( 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, PA/18/00514/B.
Should the proposed PA/18/00514/B building be approved a short fall of still remains. The proposed extension will provide approximately leaving a shortfall of . There are further buildings on the farm dedicated to the housing of the dairy herd.
The provision of the proposed building will allow for increased storage of feed and bedding which is currently either stored outside or wrapped in expensive plastic. With the wet winters, the wasted bedding and feed is becoming an issue and the proposed extension will help reduce waste and expense. The building will provide some room for machinery and fertiliser storage along with an option to house ewes and lambs at lambing time should the need arise.
The proposed building will be clad with Yorkshire boarding style wood above a concrete wall looking similar in appearance to the existing building.
Roof water will be piped into existing drainage.
Gable 2
A photograph of a large, open-sided agricultural building or shed with a corrugated roof, situated in a rural area.
Gable 1
A photograph showing a large corrugated metal agricultural building or barn situated in a rural setting with timber and materials stacked in the foreground.
Side 2.
A photograph showing an existing open-sided agricultural building with red steel supports, containing stored sacks and barrels, situated in a rural setting.
Rural Business Consultancy
www.ruralbusinessconsultancyltd.com
Visibility Splay
The proposed visibility splay is intended to improve the visibility of both private, but principally, agricultural vehicles exiting the farm lane onto the main road.
The bulk of the farm land is accessed via this farm entrance.
In 2017 a family member was involved in a road accident as they exited the farm lane.
Agricultural machinery is becoming larger and as a result tractors are often half way across the road trying to ensure it is safe to continue exiting.
The proposal is to remove three trees on the boundary, widen the main farm entrance back within the existing farm lane boundary and to bring the height of the sod hedge down from its current approximate height of 2 m to 1.050 m to ensure visibility is improved.
The sod bank will remain in situ but at a height of 1.050 m .
It is felt that the proposed splays are practical given the proximity to Ballakeigh Cottage and also the desire to remove as few trees as possible.
The three trees that the applicant wishes to be removed will be replaced with 9 whips ( 3 oak, 3 beach and 3 sycamore) planted within the extended orchard to the rear of the farm buildings.
View from farm lane towards main road.
Trees (blue arrows) proposed to be removed and the point (yellow line) where lane is to be widened to
View to the west at the point of exit from the lane
A photograph showing a white agricultural building situated next to a paved driveway and a large tree on a grassy bank.A photograph showing a rural road curving to the right, bordered by dense trees and hedges on the left and a utility pole on the right.
View to the East at the point of exit from the lane.
Overall.
The proposed shed extension will improve the functioning of the farm business, helping to save costs and provide flexibility for the business.
The proposed alterations to the farm lane entrance will help improve health and safety of anyone exiting the farm lane or travelling along the main road.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Chris Kneale
Rural Business Consultancy Ltd.
A photograph showing a paved rural road curving past a white building with a stone wall and wooden gate on the right side.A scanned cadastral map displaying land parcels with numbers, boundaries, and handwritten administrative stamps.
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal
