Plans for 2 new farm barns covering hundreds of square metres on the outskirts of East Cowes have been rejected by County Hall.
Allard submitted an Agricultural Prior Notification (APN) application to build a pair of barns at Woodhouse Farm at Barton, which is accessed via private roadways.
The first of the barns would have been an extension to an existing barn, with housing livestock, access purposes and storing hay given as proposed uses.
The second ‘standalone field barn’ would have been used to house feed.
A council report explaining the decision said the local authority was unconvinced the buildings are ‘reasonably necessary’ for agriculture at the cattle farm and cited their proximity to the protected Ludham Cottages and ‘excessive landscape impacts’.
It said:
“The welfare barn would be within 130 metres of a protected dwelling, and therefore the APN must be refused on this ground. Given the scale of existing and approved farm buildings at Woodhouse Farm, and the scale of the farming operation, the local planning authority is not convinced that the new buildings are reasonably necessary for agriculture.
“The application for the field barn would be harmful to the surrounding landscape by virtue of its scale and siting.”
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The National Farmer’s Union (NFU) wrote to the Isle of Wight Council to express its support for Allard’s application.
The agriculture and horticulture representation body said:
“It is important for Woodhouse Farm to house their cattle for welfare and handling in a barn that is of sufficient size for modern handling equipment and welfare standards. The replacement of the current barn is vital for this.
“In addition, the barn for forage storage and feeding is located on a high ground area to allow for winter feeding for the best animal welfare outcomes, while reducing the need for machinery movements.
“The proposed barns will allow the business to continue to operate into the future, helping to maintain the iconic landscapes of the area which have been shaped by centuries of farming and are key to the Isle of Wight National Landscape and to secure ongoing agricultural operations in a time of widespread and unprecedented challenge.”
Good, stop unnesseccary building on the island.