DAFF Agricultural Adviser Report

Department of Agriculture ### Fisheries and Forestry #### Rheynn Eirinys, Eeastaght as Keylljyn Colin Kniveton Chief Executive Rose House, 51 – 59 Circular Road, Douglas, Isle of Man. IM1 1AZ Telephone: (01624) 685839 Fax: (01624) 685851 E-mail [email protected] Our Ref: CMK.P60 Your Ref: PA 07/01227/A Date: 24th October 2007 Mr C Balmer The Planning Committee Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas IM1 2SF Dear Mr Balmer Re: PA 07/01227/A – Approval in principle for the erection of an agricultural workers dwelling – Part of field No 120610, Ballabane, Smeale, Andreas. Having visited the site on 2nd October 2007 to consider the agricultural business and to discuss the application with Mr and Mrs Jones I would like to make the following comments:- - The current agricultural business involves 380 acres split between two units. Ballabane farm extends to 200 acres (90 acres rented) and Leodest farm 180 acres (140 acres rented). - The farming enterprise is based on 140 suckler cows and followers, 14 of which are high value pedigree cows, 180 ewes and 80 replacements. All offspring are reared on farm to sale and as a result the business has a labour requirement of 2.48 standard labour units, see appendix 1. - Currently the business is run by Mr and Mrs Jones with the aid of casual labour at peak times and some reliance upon contractors. - Mr and Mrs Jones currently live in the rented farm house at the Leodest farm, whilst the majority of their stock is wintered in buildings at Ballabane farm. - Existing modern buildings at Leodest farm are predominately utilised for housing cattle through their finishing period. - The suckler cow herd is all housed at Ballabane farm for the winter and during the calving period, as a result of this there is an increase in travelling from Leodest farm to Ballabane farm due to the level of observation required, essentially this is to ensure that the animal health and welfare is not adversely affected. - The sheep are currently lambed at Leodest farm utilising the existing stone buildings. These buildings are not ideal, though utilised because Leodest is their place of residence and during the lambing period an increase in the levels of observation and work load can be expected, essentially to ensure that the animal health and welfare is not adversely affected. - If Mr and Mrs Jones were to relocate residence to Ballabane then the sheep flock would also be relocated to existing modern buildings at Ballabane during the lambing period. This would be more suitable for the lambing and some welfare improvements would be expected. - The land at Ballabane came into Mr Jones's ownership approximately eight years ago without a dwelling due to the original farm house and range of stone buildings being sold previously by the estate trustees. - Whilst Mr & Mrs Jones have not approached the landlord they hope to agree the release of the house from the lease whilst retaining the land. - Mr & Mrs Jones expect this to be commercially advantageous to the land lord, which is in keeping with similar arrangements the land lord has elsewhere. - Alternative housing availability in the surrounding area was not discussed and I have not explored availability of either agricultural or conventional dwellings. Based on these comments I would support this application for the erection of an agricultural workers dwelling on the farm, subject to the application of an agricultural tie based on full time employment or recent retirement from full time employment in agriculture along with the clarification of no alternative housing is available within the immediate vicinity. Yours sincerely Chris Kneale DAFF Agricultural Adviser Enclosed: Appendix 1 – standard labour requirements. name: Mr & Mrs Jones address: Leodest & Ballabane Andreas REC 29 OCT 2007 Total livestock 3,915.0 Total crops 809.7 Overhead assumption 236.2 assuming 5% overheads allowance Total standard man hours per year 4,961.0 Total labour units required 2.48 assuming 2000 standard labour units per labour unit {{table:169821}}