Ardonan Nurseries Agricultural Justification

Re: 18/00157/B - Ardonan Nurseries, Ardonan Lane, Regaby, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM7 3HN

Following my visit on the 1st July with Mr James Radcliffe I have the following comments:

• The applicant Mr James Radcliffe is seeking to erect an agricultural building 30.48m x 18.28m for the purpose of housing livestock, livestock feed and agricultural machinery.
• The farming business is based upon 60 acres of agricultural land of which approximately 1 acre is covered with glass houses and polytunnels. The glass houses and poly-tunnels are now currently unutilised due to the low profit margins involved and high operating costs on the Island.
• The land is currently utilised for the grazing of horses – (DIY livery) and fodder production. The hay (fodder) production currently is limited due to the availability of dry storage. Currently this is wrapped in plastic and stored outside. Increasing expense and waste.
• Mr Radcliffe wishes to expand his agricultural activities, based around fodder production and introducing a 40 head cattle enterprise. A housing and handling area is required to ensure animal health and welfare is not an issue.
• The labour requirement of Mr Radcliffe’s planned agricultural activity will generate approximately 1543 standard man hours or 0.77 standard labour units. See appendix 1.
• The current range of agricultural buildings include one modern steel framed agricultural building 24.38m x 9.14m.
• This building is currently utilised as a machinery store and workshop with some fodder storage.
• A range of stone buildings exist but these are not suitable for modern agriculture being poorly accessed and ventilated for the housing of livestock or storage.
• The proposed agricultural activities would require the provision of approximately 791m². This will allow for the housing of 40 1-2 year old cattle, the storage of their fodder and bedding plus an expansion of the fodder making enterprise. See appendix 2.
• As a result of the proposed agricultural activities there will be a shortfall of approximately 11m² following the erection of the proposed building.
• Historically a 15.24m x 21.33m building existed but was destroyed beyond repair in the winter storms 2007.
• This building was utilised for the housing of beef cattle on the farm. The lack of suitable housing saw stock numbers decrease to the point where both beef and sheep enterprises ceased altogether.

• Three polytunnels (36.56m x 9.14m each) have been removed from the site to allow for the proposed new building.
• The site is currently hard-cored and the applicant informed me that the site was cleared and hard core was placed on the site in preparation for the shed. The finished floor level of the proposed building will be at the previous ground levels.
• The site has been prepared as the stone became available at short notice.
• The location of the building has been selected to allow for good access and due to the size of the building. The proposed location is further away from the farm residence than the previous livestock building but still within the curtilage of the steading.
• The proposed building has been sited at least 5m away from any trees and the applicant does not wish to see any trees removed or damaged.

Based on the planned agricultural activity by Mr Radcliffe the proposed building appears to be well reasoned agriculturally justified. Yours Sincerely

Chris Kneale

Rural Business Consultancy Ltd.

Worksheet for calculation of Standard Labour unit requirements

hours/yr
Standard per acre	calculated total
8.1	-
48.6	-
36.4	-
10.1	-
6.1	-
4.0	-
6.1	-
8.1	-
1.6	97.2
0.6	-
2.4	-
40.5	-
8.1	-
8.1	-
1.6	-
13.4	-
0.4	-
24.3	-
40.5	283.4
10.1	-
202.4	-
182.2	728.7
2923.1	-

Name: James Radcliffe Address: Ardonan Farm Regaby Date: 03/07/2018

enter number:	Enterprise	Livestock Units
0	Dairy Cows	1	0
40	Beef Cows	0.75	0
	Other cattle	0.75	30
	calves	0.34	0
	Sheep		0
	ewes & lambs - lowland	0.11	0
0	ewes & lambs - upland		0
0	other sheep - lowland	0.07	0
	other sheep - upland		0
	Pigs		0
	sows	0.44	0
	finnish & rearing (pig place)	0.17	0
	piglets <20kg (pig place)	0.17	0
	Poultry		0
	table fowl		0
	laying hens		0
	growing poultis		0
	other poultry		0
	Horses		0
	Goats		0
	Deer		0
	Free range increase factor		0
0	Bee Hives		30

hours/yr
Standard per unit	calculated total
39	-
12	-
9	360.0
4	-
5.2	-
4.2	-
3.3	-
2.6	-
16	-
1.3	-
1	-
0.03	-
0.3	-
0.12	-
0.045	-
150	-
20	-
15	-
0.15	-
11	-
71	-

enter acres:	Enterprise
0	Cereals
	Potatoes
	early
	maincrop
	Vining peas
	Oilseeds
	Field Beans & peas
	Linseed
	Grass seeds
	Grassland
60	Rough grazing
	fodder crops
	fodder roots & Brassicas
	Fodder maize
	other cereal silages
	Fallow
	Sugar Beet
	Set Aside
	Hops
	Outdoor veg & salads
	Vinning peas
	Other peas & beans
	top & soft fruit
	Mushrooms

Total livestock 360.0 Total crops 1,109.3 Total livestock 360.0 Total crops 1,109.3 Overhead assumption 73.5 assuming 5% overheads allowance Total standard man hours per year 1,542.8 Total labour units required 0.77 assuming 2000 standard labour units per labour unit

Appendix 2.

Cattle Accomodation	Available Area	Length m	Width m	m²
Building	1	24.38	9.14	223
No Breeding cows*	0	5.5	0			2	0	0	0
0-1 yr old calves	0	3.8	0
1-2 year old calves	40	5.5	220			3	0	0	0
Work area	1	150	150
Cattle Handling area	1	150	150
		Total	520		Proposed	1	30.48	18.28	557.2
Feed and Bedding req		Feed bales Bedding bales
Cows	0	6.5	4	0
0-1 yr old cattle	0	3.4	1.5	0			Total available	223 m²
1-2 yr old cattle	40	4	2	240
Feed	0	0		-			Incl proposed	780 m²
Feed and Bedding storage	Area req per unit	area req m²	Height of storage/	Total area req		Cattle Requirement	791
	No of						Sheep Requirement	0
Feed and Bedding ba	240	2.5	600	3.65	164
Hard Feed tonnes	0	2.7			0		difference	-11 m²
Hay enterprise	240	2.5	360	3.65	99
		total	783
		10%	8
			791	Total area req m²