Planning Consultant Statement Removal Condition

Planning Committee, DoLGE, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas

0600415

9th March 2006

Dear Sir / Madam,

CHANGE OF USE / PROPOSED REMOVAL OF AGRICULTURAL WORKER’S CONDITION (Condition 4 of PA 94 / 1191 & Condition 4 of PA 91/0197) MEADOWFIELD, ST. JUDES ROAD LEZAYRE

FOR MRS F. HAMPTON

Planning Approval for this property as a family home tied to agriculture was given in 1991 - PA 91/0197. The property was then part of working farm, Close Chairn, run by Mrs Hampton’s parents, Mr & Mrs Brew. The dwelling approved would be occupied by Mr & Mrs Hampton and their family with her parents remaining in the traditional farmhouse.

Mrs Hampton and her husband were both involved in the agricultural industry as a registered producer and agricultural contractor respectively as well as helping Mr & Mrs Brew run Close Chairn. At the time the Hamptons lived at Conrhenny Farm, Begoade, Onchan but were finding it too distant to cope with helping at Close Chairn and raise a family. Their own agricultural occupations could also be undertaken from Close Chairn.

Sadly Mr Brew died suddenly. The family were then involved in protracted negotiations over the future of the farm which had been left to Mrs Hampton’s brother who did not want it and who wanted to sell off the property. Mrs Brew remained at the farm and eventually Meadowfield was constructed.

Before Meadowfield was completed however a further tragedy hit the family with the sudden death of Mr Hampton.

Mrs Brew, aided by Mrs Hampton, remained at the farm until she could no longer cope. To help keep the property a planning application was submitted for conversion of the farm buildings to holiday accommodation. This was refused.

Following this refusal Mrs Brew moved into sheltered accommodation. Close Chairn, which had as a result of Mr Brew’s Will been forcibly separated off from the land

comprising Meadowfield, was therefore sold. Mrs Hampton remained in Meadowfield but effectively the dwelling has never been utilised by anyone actively working in agriculture.

The new owner of Close Chairn and its remaining land then applied for and, contrary to previous decision, obtained consent for the farm outbuildings to be converted into holiday accommodation (PA 01/1322)! This development was undertaken but after only two years was given permission to change the use from tourist accommodation to residential (PA 05/00168/C).

There is therefore now no need for Meadowfield as an agricultural worker's property or as a retirement home for an agricultural worker for Close Chairn and no known opportunity for its requirement as such in association with any other farm in the neighbourhood.

For the above reasons this application is being submitted for the Planning Committee's consideration. It is hoped that the Committee respects that the circumstances which have given rise to it have been wholly outwith Mrs Hampton's control albeit as a farmer's daughter she had every intention with complying with them when they attached to the consent for Meadowfield.

Yours faithfully,

Patricia S. Newton