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Approval in principle for the erection of an agricultural workers dwelling.
This report has been prepared by Caroline Perry of Island Land-Based Services Limited.
I have an Honours Degree in Agriculture Science from Nottingham University and am a Member of the BASIS Professional Registry.
After leaving University I worked for Laurence Gould Consultants and Carter Jones Chartered Surveyors in the UK. Much of this work involved provision of a full farm management service on behalf of private and institutional clients.
Since 1993 I have provided technical and financial advice to the agriculture industry on the Isle of Man. Firstly as an agricultural adviser for DAFF and then in 2005 I set up my own company Island Land-Based Services Limited.
Much of this work involves advising farmers on capital investments and the likely implications it will have on the farming business.
I currently work for farmers, agricultural and public sector organisations and Government Departments in the Isle of Man.
Mr and Mrs Beards currently live in Kirk Michael and Mr Beards manages "Currach-ne-Fray", Clyeen Farm which is situated 1 to 2 miles away just of the A3 Cronk-y-Voddy to Kirk Michael road.
When they purchased "Currach-ne-Fray", Clyeen Farm in 1993/1994 there were no agricultural buildings or dwellings on the property except for an old tholtan. Since then the farm has been managed to a much higher standard and planning permission has been granted for two agricultural buildings.
This planning application is for approval in principle for a small agricultural dwelling with integral garage to be situated close to the agricultural buildings in Field: 234356. The dwelling will enable the farm to be managed much more efficiently and help ensure that all the current livestock legislative requirements are met.
Clyeen Farm totals 123.58 acres of which 120.72 acres are farmable and all fields are within one block surrounded by the boundary fence. The whole farm is westerly facing and extends from about 120 to 245 metres above sea level.
There are currently 18 beef cows which calf in the spring with calves being sold as stores in the autumn.
The 115 ewe sheep flock produces lambs to be sold finished off grass. Each year a small proportion of the farm is reseeded.
The standard labour unit requirements of the farm based on the 2009 Agricultural and Horticultural Census form was 1516.5 standard man hours/year or 0.76 standard labour units.
This is slightly below the 1 standard labour unit guideline for agricultural dwellings but planning is sought for an agricultural dwelling firstly because there is no dwelling at all currently on the property and for the other following reasons:
Every visit to the farm by Mr Beards currently takes time driving to and from Kirk Michael. This is time which could be better spent on the farm and the use of a vehicle for getting to and from the farm is expensive and not very environmentally friendly.
If Mr and Mrs Beards were able to live at Clyeen Farm, Mr Beards would be able to spend more time with the stock which would ensure greater welfare of the stock and therefore more readily meet the both the Countryside Care Scheme Cross Compliance Standards and Farm Assurance Standards which both state that livestock must be managed in accordance with the Welfare Codes. In this case he must follow the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture - Welfare Code for Sheep and Welfare Code for Cattle. This is especially the case during lambing and calving periods.
Another major benefit of actually living on the farm would ensure greater Biosecurity. This is essential to avoid the transmission of animal diseases. Currently by travelling on a daily basis to look after stock increases the risk of disease transmission. During periods of time when there are livestock movement restrictions in place this makes the current farming system almost unmanageable and could cause major welfare concerns.
There is currently a real concern for Mr Beards health and safety when spending long periods of time on the farm a long way from help. This is especially true when he has to be on the farm at night during calving and lambing periods or if stock need treatment or supervision if ill.
By living on the farm Mr Beards could actually increase the suckler herd to a more economical level as the management of the herd would be easier. This would then also increase the total standard labour units to nearer the 2000 standard man hours/year.
Mrs Beards is currently suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and her doctor has recommended moving into a bungalow with facilities built in to enable her to continue a normal a life as possible. If approved the agricultural dwelling could be designed to take these recommendations into account. She also requires quite a bit of help from Mr Beards, and so obviously by living on the farm would enable Mr Beards to continue farming but be able to provide the help Mrs Beards requires.
Although the standard labour unit for the farm is currently slightly below the one standard labour unit guideline for agricultural dwellings, planning is sought for an agricultural dwelling because there is no dwelling at all currently on the property, excess travelling time currently experienced to and from Kirk Michael, to improve stock supervision, biosecurity, health and safety concerns, expansion of the business and Mrs Beards current health which requires Mr Beards to be at home for a greater period of time.
Caroline Perry Island Land-Based Services Limited 4 Cronk-y-Berry Mooar Douglas Isle of Man IM2 6HJ
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