APL Planning Statement

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Re: Agricultural Building at Ballagick Farm, Santon

February 2022.

In assessing the planning application for an agricultural building at Ballagick farm, Santon, please take the following points into consideration:

• • The farming business extends to 208acres, which is all grass for the support of the grazing livestock.
• • The business is currently centred around the rearing and finishing of approximately 60 head of beef cattle. Currently there are approximately 110 beef animals from 7 to 30 months of age. All cattle are purchased, either direct or at the local auction market.
• • The farm business has a current labour requirement of 0.7 standard labour units.
• • The proposed building is 41.148m x 9.14m with a height of 3.65m to the eves.
• • The building is intended to be utilised for the housing of growing cattle, the rearing of calves and the storage of hay and straw bedding for the livestock.
• • The proposed building will allow for more livestock to be housed on the farm, rather than having to outwinter some.
• • The farmed area is made up of a mix owned (85acres) and rented (123acres) the bulk of which (158ac) is local to the home farm of Ballagick and a further 50acres of owned land at bride. The land at Bride suite the outwintering of stock due to the sandy and easy draining soils, however there is limited ability to manage stock, with stock fed and checked routinely by a north based contractor.
• • The purpose built facilities will allow for more stock to be housed in good facilities, improving the management and performance of the stock. Along with, providing an area for the rearing of beef calves sourced from the dairy herd. This area will also be utilised for the dry storage of bedding and feed.
• • The calf rearing area will be secure, to ensure there are no drafts where as the growing area for larger cattle will be open fronted to allow maximum use of the building.
• • The proposed building will replace an existing stone building which has had a number of other “lean Too” type structures attached to it. This building is no longer suitable for modern agricultural purposes and requires significant investment for domestic use. The applicant has no interest in converting this building to domestic.
• • Current buildings available for the housing of livestock extend to 439m² which is insufficient to allow all livestock associated with the business to be housed if desired. The proposed building will provide a further 376.1m².

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• • The total area, including the proposed is 815m² which would still be insufficient to house all the livestock and their feed and bedding requirements.

The proposed building is justified and will provide increased stock housing along with increased storage capacity for fodder and bedding; Improving the management and operation of this beef rearing and finishing business that is investing into its future.