**Document:** Planning Committee Agenda Report **Application:** 06/00170/A — Approval in principle for the erection of an agricultural workers dwelling on part of field 514135, **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2006-07-04 **Parish:** Santon **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/80009-santon-ballachrink-farm-dwelling-outline/documents/1461994 --- # Planning Committee Agenda Report **Application No.:** ** 06/00170/A **Case Officer :** Miss S E Corlett ### Consultations ### Planning **Applicant:** ** Mr B D Faragher ** **Proposal:** ** Approval in principle for the erection of an agricultural workers dwelling on part of field 514135, ** **Site Address:** ** Ballachrink Farm Old Castletown Road Santon Isle Of Man IM4 1HD ** ## Officer's Report [Table omitted in markdown export] #### The Site The site represents the footprint of a proposed new farm dwelling. Accompanying the site plan is a map showing the land associated with Ballachrink Farm and farmed by the applicant. This amounts to 232 acres. The applicant is Mr. B.D. Faragher #### Planning Status And Relevant Policies The site lies within an area of Woodland and an Area of High Landscape or Coastal Value and Scenic Significance on the Isle of Man Planning Scheme (Development Plan) Order 1982. #### Planning History The following planning applications have been submitted in respect of this site: - PA 84/0178 - extension of agricultural building - permitted - PA 89/4167 - lean-to roof extension to cover silage pit - permitted - PA 97/0255 - extension to agricultural buildings - permitted - PA 98/1843 - erection of lean-to agricultural building - permitted - PA 00/1310 - extension to agricultural building - permitted - PA 02/0492 - erection of agricultural building - permitted Also associated with this holding is a further property approved as a farm dwelling under 84/0179/A and 84/0497/B and later extended under 88/0767 - now referred to as Glion Oaldyn. This was approved following support from the Agricultural Adviser. When I spoke with the applicant and his wife on site, they explained about this previous permission (the property was built) but explained that it is no longer part of the holding. They advise me that the siting was at the request of the Planning Officer. The reports on file seem to suggest that the siting was actually at the request of the applicant who was at the time reluctant to have the new house close to the farm. The other property which was recently for sale is Thie my Chree, a very small cottage situated to the west of the farm opposite the junction of the Old Castletown Road (A25) with the road to Santon Church. There is very limited land around this - the site is surrounded by land belonging to Ballachrink Farm and the property is not likely to ever be significant in size. #### The Proposal Proposed here is the principle of the erection of a new farm dwelling. This is to be located on the right hand side of the driveway to the main farm, served by the same access and generally in compliance with the locational provisions of Planning Circular 3/88. This Circular also recommends that attention is paid to the accommodation which has been available to the farm in the past. In this respect, Glion Oaldyn is relevant. The farm dwelling is intended for farm assistance. The applicant has previously had help on the farm but has found it increasingly difficult to recruit help where there is no accommodation on or near the farm. #### Assessment We now have information from the Agricultural Adviser who describes the holding as 209 acres, 75 cropped and around 90 dairy cows with associated followers. This operation would require 2.6 full time workers and as Mrs. Faragher is more heavily involved in bringing up their young family, help outside the family is now required. Mr. and Mrs. Faragher explained to me that obtaining such assistance is very difficult, if not impossible if on-site accommodation is not available both in terms of convenience in calving periods and for the farm help to be able to afford suitable accommodation. They have had help in the past but this has not been maintained due to the accommodation difficulties. DAFF "strongly support" the application for this additional dwelling. The Department of Transport have also made submissions regarding sightlines: they do not oppose the application provided that access including sightlines onto the A25 is to the satisfaction of the Department of Transport. No specific sightlines have been recommended but Derek Sewell has clarified that he would require 2m by 54m visibility splays which are achievable on the site. The siting of the proposed dwelling is such that it utilises the same access as that to the main dwelling although as shown, it could be closer to the group although there are trees between the proposed siting and the farm buildings (see aerial photograph). It could be closer to the farm buildings however, without adversely affecting the existing trees. The principle of the need for the additional dwelling would appear to be strongly supported by DAFF and as such the proposal would seem to me to accord with the principles and requirements of Planning Circular 3/88 - New Agricultural Dwellings. Whilst a dwelling has previously been erected in association with the farm holding, it has clearly not been occupied either in accordance with the original occupancy condition or in association with the farm for some time. Also, its size and position in relation to the farm do not render it ideal for association with the farm operation but easily severable therefrom and the soundness of its original approval in these respects is questionable. The applicant has investigated other agricultural dwellings in the parish - including two which have recently been the subject of applications for the removal of their agricultural occupancy conditions - at Mullinaragher and Ballavale. Both of these properties were subsequently the subject of applications for certificates of lawful use, for which the latter was issued and the former is pending consideration. Both properties are too expensive for this applicant. ### Party Status Neither the resident of Port Soderick nor the Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment are directly affected by the proposal and should not be afforded party status in this case. Fire Prevention Officer, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Department of Transport are statutory authorities and as such should be afforded party status in this instance. ### Recommendation Decision Recommended by the Director of Planning and Building Control: Permitted Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal ## O : Notes attached to refusals C 1. This approval is in principle only and will remain valid for a period of two years within which time no development may take place until such time as details of the reserved matters (siting, design, external appearance, internal layout, means of access, landscaping) have been approved by the Planning Authority. Such reserved matters should form the subject of a single application. C 2. This permission relates to the principle of the erection of a farm worker's dwelling in association with the holding identified on the location plan received on 31st January, 2006. C 3. The new dwelling must be a modest and traditionally designed dwelling in accordance with policies 2-7 inclusive of Planning Circular 3/91. C 4. The occupation of the proposed dwelling(s) must be limited to persons whose employment or latest employment is or was employed in agriculture in the Island and including also the dependants of such persons as aforesaid. C 5. The application for reserved matters must include proposals to achieved increased visibility at the entrance of the farm lane onto the A25 such that visibility of 2m by 54m is available to drivers of emerging vehicles. C 6. The new dwelling must be sited as close as possible to the existing farm group of buildings without adversely affecting the existing trees. --- *Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).* *Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/80009-santon-ballachrink-farm-dwelling-outline/documents/1461994*