PERMISSION has been granted for a new house near Lochmaben following an appeal to the Scottish Government.
Dumfries and Galloway Council had last year turned down the bid to build at North Cowshaw, Shieldhill.
But it has now been granted on appeal by Reporter Stephen Hall.
After considering the case, and visiting the site last month, he issued his decision last Thursday in favour of applicants C Kennedy and Partners.
They had submitted a labour requirement report showing the farm requires a workforce of 5.2 people, of which 4.4 are needed for livestock work.
Accepting this, Mr Hall said: “Evidence from the applicant’s consultant and vet sets out reasons why it may be necessary for people to be available on-site at all times, including during calving and lambing but also to deal with health and welfare issues of livestock throughout the year.
“The applicant’s adult son works full time on the farm and currently lives in the farmhouse with his parents and siblings. The suggestion is not therefore that a new need has arisen for an additional on-site presence, but that two houses are now required to accommodate the existing staffing levels.
“I acknowledge that many of the tasks requiring to be carried out on a livestock farm are routine and could be carried out by a worker living elsewhere and commuting to work. However there are also aspects of the work that require a more permanent on-site presence, particularly at calving and lambing time, but also to deal with health and safety issues throughout the year.
“Overall I am satisfied that the case has been made that at least two workers are required to reside on site at North Cowshaw, mainly due to the scale and nature of the operation and to cover for periods when the applicant himself is away or incapacitated.”
He further noted the constraints of everyone living in the existing farmhouse, adding: “I note that this is not a particularly large building and already accommodates other family members. I consider it to be a reasonable expectation for the applicant’s son to be able to live in his own home, particularly as he gets older and may wish to start a family of his own.
“While the guidance states that personal circumstances should be discounted, this is not to say that there should not be a reasonable expectation for essential adult farmworkers to have their own homes. I consider that the current arrangements are no longer appropriate.”
Mr Hall also noted that the Kennedy’s business plan demonstrated North Cowshaw is a ‘substantial and viable livestock operation’ and said there was no other alternative accommodation on the farm that could be utilised, or converted.
The proposed house site is located adjacent to the C16N minor road, approximately 380 metres south west of the entrance to North Cowshaw Farm.
The Reporter expects the new house will relate ‘reasonably well’ to the existing houses in the area and would not ‘disturb any particularly important view’.
