Planning Statement
Planning Statement
Proposed erection of an industrial building for storage of machinery and implements, at “Ballasalla Farm”, Coast Road, Jurby, IM7 3AS.
The proposal is to erect a dark green, ‘Plastisol’-coated, portal-framed industrial building, adjacent to the existing similar unit, as shown on the enclosed photograph.
The purpose of the proposed building is to store, in dry conditions, all of the various pieces of mechanical equipment used in the applicant’s farming business, many of which are presently stored in the open around the site, together with some animal feed, but are suffering from deterioration due to adverse weather. The proximity of the farm to the shoreline adds to the corrosion of machinery in stormy conditions.
The existing building has no spare space to accommodate the additional equipment and animal feed, as it is fully utilised with parked machinery and repair workshop with some storage of interchangeable attachments for the multi-purpose equipment.
The farm business using the equipment and animal feed is two-fold: approximately one thousand sheep are cared for in three off-site rented areas, requiring regular attendances to monitor and attend to the animals and maintain the grazing areas. These sites have no covered areas for any equipment, which is also used in sub-contracting farm activities.
The equipment owned by the farm business includes three large tractors and two quadbikes, with many interchangeable pieces of equipment. These include hay cutters, harrows, baling machinery, buckets, trailers of various sizes, extension arms, rollers, scrub-brushers, etc. (see photos attached).
With the above equipment kept in the open, corrosion is very evident. Many of the bales of animal feed left outside go rotten before they can be used and have to be disposed of. This method of parking equipment and bales also causes the farm-yard to be unsightly – a point that the applicant is acutely aware of and would like to resolve.
A second agricultural building, as proposed, would enable the pieces of equipment presently stored in the open to be kept in a dry environment, minimising the maintenance and increasing the life cycle of each one. The long-term benefit is obvious as would be the general appearance of the site.
T.E.Craine Agent for applicant.
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