Squeen Farm Conversion Justification

Conversion Of Timber Shed To Dwelling

Due to the nature of their employment as agricultural contractors and substantial investment in farm vehicles and machinery security at Squeen Farm has always been an issue. Since his mother, Mrs Quirk senior, was widowed she has been alone in the farmhouse and with the passage of years has been more and more worried and disturbed about security on Squeen Farm.

The farmhouse itself is very old traditional house with thick walls and basically two rooms up and down and a rear extension under a cat slide roof. Mrs Quirk may accommodate on occasions her great grandchildren but the dwelling is simply not big enough to accommodate both her and her son on a full time basis. While in the long term the dwelling may be replaced, this is simply not practical nor financially possible at present.

Whilst in business with his father, the late Robert Quirk, at Squeen Farm Mr Eddie Quirk used to live with his wife and family at Rose Cottage, Killane, Ballaugh. During 2012 his marriage broke up and led subsequently to the forced sale of Rose Cottage.

To overcome both the problem of security and to provide himself with somewhere to live temporarily Mr Eddie Quirk converted the replacement shed into a one bedroom dwelling. Mr Quirk greatly apologises for undertaking this without the necessary consents but the decision was taken at a time when his own life was under considerable stress and financial strain. Mr Quirk appreciates that while he has managed to provide a home that is satisfactory for his standards following a visit from Building Regulations Officer he understands that additional work needs to be done to make it fully compliant with relevant Building Regulations. If he is successful in obtaining permission for this conversion the appropriate drawings for the additional work will be submitted.

In terms of policy attention may be given to General Policy 3 (c) 11 which allows for development on previously developed land. The previous use of this site has been long established as both agricultural and for repair of agricultural machinery and vehicles; the latter in other circumstances (PA for has been counted as light industry. Buildings with commercial or light industrial use have been previously allowed to be replaced by dwellings eg at The Eairy (PA 13/00471/B) only shortly (within a year) after permission for the former have been given (PA11/01286/B) or, as per many mill buildings which may have a partly agricultural partly light industrial use as Glen Moar Mill (PA 08/01706/B, been allowed to be converted to dwellings. With Squeen having two newer purpose-built sheds encompassing repair, storage and office facilities for the latter and the franchise for John Deere agricultural supply and repair work having been given up in 2013 / 4, the timber frame shed is no longer required for these purposes.

The building is an integral part of Squeen. It is not visible from public places from outside of the yard. Whilst clearly of a more recent build than others on the yard it is of a discrete appearance and does not cause harm to the locality. Such facilities such as car parking and refuse disposal as are needed by the dwelling are shared with existing facilities on the yard. It does not generate any more use of the access to Squeen farm; rather given Mr Quirk does not have to return home to a separate residence away from Squeen it reduces the number of journeys made into and out of the yard. The building itself is of benefit in improving the appearance on entering the yard. There are other residential premises to the east (the farmhouse), south and west of the yard.

In the circumstances Mr Quirk trusts that permission for conversion of the building may be obtained.