**Document:** APL Statement
**Application:** 22/00654/B — Erection of an agricultural building
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2022-10-06
**Parish:** Malew
**Document Type:** report / planning_statement
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/9017-malew-ballagawne-farm-road-ballabeg-agricultural-building/documents/952170

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# APL Statement

## Rural Business Consultancy

### 24 Nay 2022

Re: Erection of a new Agricultural Building, Ballagawne Farm, Ballabeg.

In assessing the planning application for the erection of an agricultural building please take the following points into consideration:

- Ballagawne Farm Ltd are principally a dairy farming business, based at Ballagawne farm. They currently milk 240 dairy cows and rear all the calves either for replacements or beef along with purchasing more beef cattle annually to rear for the local beef trade.
- Ballagawne farm is leased by Ballagawne Farm Limited who are applying for planning permission to erect a new agricultural building for the storage of feed and bedding for their dairy herd.
- The proposed building is $18.28 \mathrm{~m} \times 13.716 \mathrm{~m}$ with half of the building dedicated to the secure storage of feed and half of the building intended to be open for the storage of feed and bedding.
- The farm is approximately 544acres, all of which is leased by the business on medium to long term arrangements.
- The farm business currently has a labour requirement of approximately 7.14 standard labour units. See attached.
- This business is Red Tractor Farm Assured and supplies milk to the Isle of Man Creamery and Beef to Isle of Man Meats.
- Currently there are no buildings dedicated to the storage of feeds and bedding across the farm. Feed has been historically stored in temporary plastic storage bags or Ag-bags. These are large plastic bags which allow for the temporary storage of grain. There is a level of waste associated with this storage method which the business now sees as a wasted resource.
- All other buildings at Ballagawne farm are fully utilised for the housing or management of livestock.
- Due to the limited storage and dedicated feed areas, mixing cheaper rations has been constrained and the business has to largely rely on purchased, proprietary concentrate feeds.
- As the price of feeds, especially grains and proteins has escalated in price recently, the business now sees the safe secure storage of feed and the ability to bulk purchase and mix rations as a key area to help reduce day to day costs and wastage.
- The proposed building will allow for the feeds to be stored, dry, secure, and meet farm assurance standards.

- Currently some of the existing cow accommodation area is utilised for the storage of bedding through part of the winter, the provision of the proposed building would allow for the storage of the bedding and free up cow accommodation, which in turn will result in fewer cows having to be outwintered.
- The buildings proposed location provides good access, keep the feed areas clean and allow for delivery lorries to be clean.
- Roof water will drain into existing drainage system.

In conclusion, the proposed agricultural building is key to improving the farms financial viability, operational performance and will help reducing the environmental risk from reduced plastic use and also the housing of more cows. This building is agriculturally justified and will help future proof the business and farm holding.

Kind regards

Chris Kneale

Rural Business Consultancy

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*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/9017-malew-ballagawne-farm-road-ballabeg-agricultural-building/documents/952170*