Agricultural Building Justification

Rural Business Consultancy

www.ruralbusinessconsultancyItd.com

1800723

Re: Erection of an Agricultural Building, Baljean Farm, Laxey

The applicant Mr E Parsons of Baljean Farm Ltd, is seeking to erect a steel framed building $32 \mathrm{~m} \times 18.28 \mathrm{~m}$ for the housing of livestock through the winter. I would be grateful if, in assessing the application, you could consider the following points:

• The farming business is based at Baljean Farm, Laxey where Mr Parsons Resides.
• The farming business encompasses some 5003 acres of which approximately 3528 can be classified as rough grazing and 1475 as grassland grazing.
• Stocking includes 225 suckler cows, 415 young stock, 740 lowland ewes, 1600 upland ewes and their flock replacements. The majority of lambs and cattle are finished on farm.
• As a result there is a labour demand of 14.08 standard labour units. This is a substantial farming business. See appendix 1.
• The farming operation is largely spread over three sites, Baljean, Lough Mallow Farm at Ramsey and Sneafell.
• The applicant wishes to demolish part of an existent redundant stone building plus a small lean too garage at Baljean farm, Laxey and erect a modern, purpose-built livestock building 32 m by 18.28 m .
• Existing buildings at Baljean Include $32 \mathrm{~m} \times 21.34 \mathrm{~m}$ and $41.15 \mathrm{~m} \times 24.4 \mathrm{~m}$ which are utilised of the housing of some cows and finishing cattle through the winter period. Currently Stock bulls and some cows have to be outwintered until the finishing cattle are all sold.
• The cows are all calved inside to ensure animal health and welfare is not compromised.
• At calving the sheds are filled to capacity with little available space to provide an overflow should the weather be inclement preventing fresh calved cows and their calves to be moved out to the pasture.
• Currently the livestock housing requirements for the business are $4952 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$ whereas the existing buildings provide $3984 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$. The proposed building will provide $585 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$ which will still leave a shortfall of $316 \mathrm{~m}^{2}$. see appendix 2 .
• The proposed shed is intended to provide further space for calved cows, winter housing of the breeding bulls, plus machinery and feed storage.
• The building is to be located near to the farms existing cattle handling facilities which will allow the proposed building to be utilised for the handling of cattle also.

• The existing buildings are not practical or fit for modern agricultural machinery and the housing of livestock.
• There are a range of stone buildings at Baljean farm that are not suited to modern agriculture being poorly accessed and ventilated.
• Further buildings are located at Lough Mallow Ramsey which are utilised for the housing of the 210 young stock, sheep housing and feed storage. See appendix 2.

The proposed building is clearly justified providing improved housing and handling facilities at Baljean farm along with suitable feed, bedding and machinery storage. Therefore, improving the operational capacity and efficiency of the farming business along with animal health and welfare and labour health and safety.

Kind Regards

[Signature]

Chris Kneale

Rural Business Consultancy Ltd.