Agricultural Dwelling Justification

1001209

Approval In Principle For Agricultural Dwelling

Clarum Farm, Ballaragh, Lonan

The Farm

Clarum Farm is now a 60 acre farm used for sheep breeding and horse liveries. The nature of the operation is such that it requires that someone should be available on site at all times. Mr & Mrs John French have lived there for 36 years in a dwelling close to the farm but which is not tied to it. Permission was given for this house in 1952 to previous owners of the farm. In recent years permission has been given for additional barns and extension thereto and the construction of a ménage.

The Need

Both Mr John French and his daughter run the farm and liveries. Mr & Mrs French would like to semi-retire from the business but still be on hand to help out and provide cover for their daughter who would take over full time. Currently although she would wish to undertake this role she cannot do so as, as a divorced mother of two she has to rent accommodation in Onchan. The distance coupled with family commitments restrict her involvement in the business.

The proposal is therefore to effectively enable a role reversal between father and daughter whilst keeping the premises in family ownership. Mr & Mrs French would move to a new smaller dwelling on the farm yard. The dwelling would, unlike the present house be tied to the farm. Their current house would become their daughter's home enabling her to takeover the fulltime running of the farm including the liveries.

The Site

The site proposed for the house is to the east of the existing barns and ménage and west of the access to Clarum. To fit into the topography of the land a one-and-a-half storey dwelling, dormer bungalow or split level dwelling is proposed based on the site either at lower level where cars currently park or upper level - same level as the ménage. Either site would still enable enough space for car parking and larger vehicles to get into the yard when needed as well as normal horse and people movement around the yard. The west side of the access to Clarum has already been planted with trees at 3m intervals all along the access. These are now upto 3m high and will gradually provide a full screen to the proposal as well as to the farm buildings. Access to the house site would be as at present through the gates to the farm yard from the private access road. Other services are available.

Old Clarum Farmhouse

When Mr & Mrs French acquired Clarum in 1976 the old farmhouse was in a very poor state, possibly not having been lived in since the 1950's. In the late 1980's permission was given to renovate it; this was a pre-condition of its being sold off. Mr & Mrs French had no thought at that time of needing it for the farm nor had it been used by them in the previous 13 years. Renovation was not undertaken by them. Since then there have been several owners of old Clarum farmhouse. It is now 21 years since it was owned as part of Clarum.