Plans for a hay barn for rare breed animals at an Isle of Wight farm have been refused due to concerns over its visual impact on the National Landscape.
Richard Salter’s agricultural prior notification application for a new building with a dark green roof at Oaklea Dairy near Alverstone was turned down by planners who cited a ‘detrimental’ effect on the protected area’s character.
The structure was proposed to store hay for Mr Salter’s rare breed animals, according to a statement from John Woolley rural property consultants.
It said:
“It is a profitable, well-established agricultural business, predominately producing beef cattle on over 200 hectares of land in the East Wight.
“The centre of operations for this business is Oaklea Dairy in Alverstone. In addition to the 400 head of commercial cattle, over the last few years Mr Salter, in association with Ms Walls, have built up a small flock of rare breed sheep and goats, and a small number of rare breed cattle, as part of a farm diversification project.
“The rare breed animals eat predominantly hay as supplementary feed, rather than silage. They are also not housed in Mr Salter’s main cattle sheds. They are outwintered.
“As such, Mr Salter would like to put up a small agricultural barn to store the hay required to feed these animals, and to store some items needed for their welfare, closer to their location e.g. feed bins, shearing implements, some straw bales certain times of the year etc.”
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County Hall’s decision report on proposal 25/01489/6PA said:
“The proposed barn would be finished in natural timber cladding under a dark green roof, materials commonly used in rural buildings.
“However, officers consider that the proposed siting of the barn would have a detrimental impact on the character of the National Landscape due to its visibility within the wider area in conjunction with its separation from the existing cluster of farm buildings.
“The building is relatively low in height, however due to the topography of the area, would be sited on rising ground which would increase its prominence within the designated landscape to an unacceptable level.”
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Can’t put a barn on a farm? Animal welfare.Feeds the national. Our dysfunctional council is also tyrannical.
Unbelievable. If it was for housing then it would have been given the green light. We so need to look after our animals.