Island Land-Based Services Statement

Island Land-Based Services Limited

1801102

Mr Stuart Christian Field No: 214552, Ballacrye, Sandygate, Isle of Man Erection of an Agricultural Building

Introduction

This planning application is for the erection of an agricultural building at Ballacrye, Sandygate. Mr Stuart Christian is in the process of purchasing 32.44 acres which will provide accommodation for his livestock during the winter. This report is to explain why the proposed agricultural building is essential for the agriculture business and that it does constitute an exception to warrant the setting aside of established planning policy aimed at protecting the countryside from unwarranted development.

The Applicant

Mr Christian was brought up on farms in the Isle of Man and after leaving school was determined to have a career in farming. He eventually was in a position to be able to purchase Seafield Farm, Bollyn Road, Ballaugh which was going to be the base for his farming business and after obtaining planning approval for an agricultural dwelling, a home for him and his wife as well.

Sadly in 2014, Mrs Christian passed away and after struggling on his own, Mr Christian realised that the farm and farmhouse at Seafield was too large to manage by himself and so decided to sell to give someone else the opportunity to be able to farm in this part of the Island.

Mr Christian, however retained the farming tenancy at Ballacurn, Ballaugh which consists of just over 100 acres of permanent pasture upland grazing land. The tenancy runs from 1st March to 31st December with all livestock having to be taken off the farm by 20th December each year. Mr Christian now lives in Sulby.

The land at Ballacrye

The land which Mr Christian is hoping to purchase is made up of six fields in one block with a hardcore track running through the parcel of land. The land is Grade 3 agricultural land classified as having the potential to provide very good grazing and suitable for crop production. There are no buildings for sale with the land.

The 32.44 acres of well drained, lowland fields could provide the essential winter grazing required for Mr Christian's 300 Scotch Sheep after tupping with Bluefaced Leicester rams in the autumn. With the fields at Ballacrye, lambing could take place in early March prior to all sheep going back to Ballacurn. The Scotch mule lambs could then be sold as ewe lambs for breeding and ram lambs which are not sold off grass at Ballacurn could be finished at Ballacrye where hay and forage crops could be grown.

There is also the possibility that Mr Christian could purchase a few suckler cows for a small beef herd to be run at Ballacurn and Ballacrye.

The proposed agricultural building

The planning application is for a relatively small agricultural building which is required to ensure all necessary legislation and agricultural codes of practice can be adhered to as well as ensuring that Mr Christian's agricultural business can continue.

The building would be general purpose, providing storage for forage, concentrate feeds and minerals, a locked veterinary medicine cabinet and secure storage for tools & machinery required

for running a sheep farm. It would also provide areas for lambing required in poor weather and penning for sheep when isolation is required.

One of the requirements of selling finished lambs is that farms must be "Farm Assured". The following are some of the standards which are required to become farm assured:

• Facilities as appropriate must be provided when necessary for the segregation/isolation and the care of sick or injured animals.
• All medicines must be kept in a secure locked store and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Appropriate biosecurity measures must be planned and implemented to minimise the spread of disease within the farm and between other farms.
• All feed must be readily identifiable and stored in clean conditions to prevent any form of contamination.
• An effective control system must be in operation in the areas detailed to control infestation by vermin and other animals.
• Where necessary, there must be appropriate facilities for stock to give birth. This includes clean, dry bedding, adequate lighting to allow close inspection and provision of assistance if required.
• In the interests of security, fertiliser must be stored in such a way as to reduce the risk of theft.
• All paints, preservatives, disinfectants, baits, lubricants and other chemical products must be kept in a suitable store to prevent contamination and pollution.

In addition to Farm Assurance standards, sheep producers must adhere to DEFA's Welfare Code for Sheep which is based on the five freedoms. The recommendations in the Code help producers meet the requirements of the Animal Health Act and Welfare of Farm Animals Order.

The following are the recommendations in the Code which would be very difficult to adhere to without housing:

• Sheep should be provided with fresh feed, and any which is stale or contaminated should be removed from troughs before more is added.
• Feed should be palatable and of good quality.
• Arrangements should be made in advance to ensure that adequate supplies of suitable feed and water can be made available to sheep in emergencies, such as severe winter storms or summer drought.
• Provision should be made, and used when necessary, for the segregation and care of sick or injured animals.
• All sheep farmers should have easily operated and efficient handling pens, to facilitate routine management and treatment, on a size and scale to suit the flock numbers.
• A source of heat (for example a warmer box) should be available to revive weak lambs, but care should be taken to avoid overheating.
• For artificial rearing: A dry bed and adequate draught-free ventilation should be provided and where necessary, arrangements should be made to supply safe supplementary heating for very young lambs. Suitable accommodation should be available for sick or injured lambs. This should be separate from other livestock.

Biosecurity is another essential component of managing a sheep flock. To ensure biosecurity is maximised requires farmers having the ability to isolate sheep that are brought onto the farm for a period to ensure they are not suffering or are carriers of any diseases as well as facilities for segregating sick animals.

The farm yard manure produced from having livestock in the building would be put back onto the land at Ballacrye and thereby improving soil fertility and organic matter.

Planning Conditions

The applicant has indicated that he has no problem with conditions being placed on the building restricting its use solely for agriculture or that the area around the building be landscaped and screened by the planting of trees.

Summary and Conclusion

The applicant has had many years of practical agricultural experience and he has the ability and knowledge to run a farming business producing top quality lambs for the local market if given the opportunity. The planning application for the erection of an agricultural building at Ballacrye is being submitted solely to ensure that when he purchases Ballacrye the applicant can continue farming and to manage his sheep flock in a way to ensure that all relevant codes, legislation and other agricultural standards can be adhered to.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that the agricultural building would be essential for managing Mr. Christian's farming business at a time when farmers must prove to government, abattoirs, retailers and consumers that they are farming to specific high standards.

Caroline Perry Island Land-Based Services Limited

Telephone: 07624 4490488

September 2018

1801102