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This report has been prepared by Caroline Perry of Island Land - Based Services Limited. I have an Honours Degree in Agriculture Science from Nottingham University and am a Member of the BASIS Professional Registry. After leaving University I worked for Laurence Gould Consultants and Carter Jonas Chartered Surveyors in the UK. Much of this work involved provision of a full farm management service on behalf of private and institutional clients. Since 1993 I have provided technical and financial advice to the agriculture industry on the Isle of Man. Firstly as an agricultural adviser for DAFF and then in 2005 I set up my own company Island Land - Based Services Limited. Much of this work involves advising farmers on capital investments and the likely implications it will have on the farming business. I currently work for farmers, agricultural and public sector organisations and Government Departments in the Isle of Man.
This report has been prepared to explain the reasoning for applying for planning approval for a general purpose agricultural building at Allandale Farm. The farm currently needs to expand to ensure its profitability and consequently sustainability into the future. Additional land is available but to fully make use of this land another building will be required.
The farm currently runs to 35.72 eligible acres with stocking of 150 breeding ewes, 20 shearlings, 12 rams, 2 replacement ram lambs, 30 replacement ewe lambs and the spring 2010 born lambs on the farm. It has been recognised that even with stocking the farm at its optimum level; due to the economics of farming it is difficult to make a realistic farm profit from 36 acres. A further 61 acres are available to rent locally which alongside a new building would enable the farm to expand its sheep flock and diversify into breeding cattle. This would ensure the future sustainability of the farm.
The new building along with the existing building will enable all the agricultural machinery, livestock feed and forages to be stored in secure, dry conditions as well as provide livestock accommodation for winter housing cattle, lambing facilities and an a livestock isolation area in case of disease. $1 /$ The machinery needs to be stored undercover to avoid deterioration and the possibility of causing injury to livestock and humans. The natural beauty of the area is also enhanced if it is not stored out in the open. 2/ Livestock feeds and forages need to be stored in dry, secure, vermin proof conditions to meet Farm Assurance Standards. 3/ Stock housing is essential to a modern well run farm to ensure welfare and farm assurance regulations can be met. Ewes that are lambing can be monitored easily and help provided when required. By housing stock over the winter also ensures that the fields do not get poached and therefore there is enough fresh grass growth for stock in the spring when it is required immediately after lambing and calving. All stock will be bedded on straw to ensure there is no pollution risk.
The application is for a building situated 4.4 metres from the farm boundary and 7 metres from the existing agricultural building. Its length will run in a north west/south east direction and so will be perpendicular with the other building. The dimensions of the building will be $22.96 \mathrm{~m}(75 \mathrm{ft})$ long and $9.144 \mathrm{~m}(30 \mathrm{ft})$ wide. The total height will be $4.576 \mathrm{~m}(15 \mathrm{ft})$ with $3.353 \mathrm{~m}(11 \mathrm{ft})$ to the eaves. Walls will be constructed with olive green box profile plastisol coated metal sheets and the roof with serpentine green eternity profile 6 R " single skin fibre cement with a total of 10 G.R.P roof lights. The doors will be timber sliding doors and will open at the gable end facing the existing building.
Linda Thompson and Vaughn Williamson are passionate about ensuring the long term viability of their farm. They have recognised that they will have to invest in the business if they are going to be able to run it successfully. There is additional land available locally which they could take on but would require an additional general purpose agricultural building at Allandale Farm to ensure the land can be used to its full advantage.
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