The Old Dairy | Sutton Scotney | Winchester | Hampshire | SO21 3NZ T 01962 763900 | F 01962 763901

13 June 2019

Our ref: 190612 lt bdbc Your ref:

The Planning Department Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council by email

Dear Sirs

FIELD BARN FARM PLANNING APPLICATION FOR A PERMANENTLY SITED MOBILE HOME TO SUPPORT THE EXISTING AGRICULTURAL AND EQUINE USE AT THE FARM

We write to provide supporting information to accompany the above referenced planning application in terms of its rural justification when assessed under the relevant planning policies. The proposal here is for the permanent siting of a mobile home at the farm to support the existing essential functional need for a farm worker to be on site in relation to looking after the breeding livestock. Planning history 1. The proposal for a mobile home is not new to this site and there is considerable planning history pertaining to it, the most relevant of which is summarised below:

BDB/57888 Siting of mobile home (retrospective) Refused 14/5/2004

BDB/61360 Change of use of part residential and part business use Refused 26/8/2005

BDB/62054 Siting of mobile home for agricultural/equestrian worker Approved 26/11/2005

BDB/69912 Continued siting of mobile home for agricultural/equestrian Refused enterprise worker (retrospective) 9/11/2009

2. As much of this planning history relates directly to the proposal now, we have referred to the previous planning decisions where those facts remain relevant to the current proposal. This is in order to prevent further unnecessary deliberation and discussion over facts which have been otherwise accepted either by the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) or by the BDBC's appointed agricultural consultants.

www.bcm.co.uk

BCM is a trading name of BCM Bays Curry McCowen LLP a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England no: OC318704 Our registered office is The Old Dairy, Winchester Hill, Sutton Scotney, Winchester SO21 3NZ where you may look at a list of partners

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3. BDB/57888 This application was made in 2004 and refused primarily as, although the identified need of lambing the ewe flock created a need for onsite accommodation and round the clock care during the lambing season, that need could be met by the siting of a mobile home there temporarily for the months of April and May (when the need was identified). This could be done under general permitted development rights. Therefore, it was deemed that insufficient agricultural evidence had been submitted and the application was refused. 4. BDB/62054 This application sought permission for retention of the mobile home subject to a three year condition. This application was approved on the grounds of a report prepared by Reading Agricultural Consultants (RAC) (actually prepared in relation to BDB/61360) that there was a justification for the mobile home. 5. BDB/69912 This application sought the continued siting of the mobile home consented in BDB/62054. RAC were asked to comment again on this application and concluded there was no requirement for the proposed mobile home as the thoroughbred enterprise was not “imminent” and the sheep and cattle enterprises did not generate a sufficient functional need by themselves, although “clearly they would have contributed to the overall need alongside the racehorse breeding enterprise”. Relevant planning policies 6. It is important to reflect that the planning policies to be considered in respect of this application have changed since the previous applications above were considered. In summary, all of the above applications fell to be considered under the prevailing policy of BDBC at the time but in all cases these, in effect, deferred to Annex A of PPS7 which is no longer relevant in considering these applications. 7. National planning policy guidance for development in the countryside is set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which was published on 24 July 2018. 8. Paragraph 79 of the NPPF states “planning policies and decisions should avoid the development of isolated homes in the countryside unless one or more of the following circumstances apply … there is an essential need for a rural worker, including those taking majority control of the farm business, to live permanently at or near their place of work in the countryside.” 9. Paragraph 80 of the NPPF states “planning policies and decisions should help create the conditions in which businesses can invest, expand and adapt.”

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10. Paragraph 83 of the NPPF states “Planning policies and decisions should enable: a) the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well-designed new buildings; b) the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses; c) sustainable rural tourism and leisure developments which respect the character of the countryside; and d) the retention and development of accessible local services and community facilities, such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, open space, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship.” 11. With regard to local planning policy, Policy SS6 of the BDBC Adopted Local Plan 2011-2029 (ALP) states: “Development proposals for new housing outside of Settlement Policy Boundaries will only be permitted where they are: f) For a new dwelling linked to an existing and viable agricultural, forestry, horse breeding and training, livery or equivalent rural business, where it can be shown that: xii) There is an essential need for the occupant to be on site at any time during any 24 hour period; and xiii) No alternative suitable accommodation is available in the locality; and xiv) The rural business linked to the proposed new building must have been viable for the previous three years;” Business developments since the last application 12. The applicant has continued to invest in and develop the business at Field Barn Farm. This has included increasing the numbers and diversity of livestock kept at the farm, introducing equine enterprises to the farm and importantly embarking on a significant environmental restoration project in tandem with Natural England intended to restore the downland habitat. 13. The numbers and diversity of livestock are dealt with later in this letter as are the equine enterprises. 14. The Kingsclere Downs restoration project has been created by a partnership between the applicant and Natural England. 15. The restoration project drives much of what is happening at Field Barn Farm and has been referenced by many including the Rt Hon George Eustace MP (during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture), who visited the project when touring the country looking at initiatives that fit the type of environmental target objectives that are being considered under the new Agriculture Bill. 16. It is important to recognise that the significant grant aid which is forthcoming as a result of the Higher Level Stewardship scheme which underpins the Kingsclere Downs restoration project

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provides vital income to Field Barn Farm. It is also important to recognise that it is a requirement of the stewardship scheme that has been entered into to have the diversity of grazing livestock which are currently on site. This is why there is a plethora of rare breed sheep and this is why Red Poll and Dexter cattle are kept. The Farm 17. A plan of the farm edged red is shown at Appendix A and a schedule of the land is included at Appendix B. The layout of the farm buildings is shown in Appendix C. 18. The farm comprises 283 ha (700 acres), broken down as follows: Hectares Acres Arable land 198 489 Permanent Pasture 20 49 Down 36 89 Woodland, buildings and other un-farmed land 29 73 TOTAL 283 700 19. The entire farm lies within the North Wessex Downs AONB and the downland identified above is north facing and “iconic” in terms of traditional chalk downland in this area. 20. The farm is served by the main set of farm buildings at Field Barn Farm as shown in appendix C. They comprise buildings for storing grain and general farming equipment as well as stabling and a large building designed for lambing sheep and calving cattle. 21. The farm is served by three dwellings, whose location is shown on the plan at Appendix A: a. Wells Head House: A substantial single storey property extending to 5 bedrooms with ancillary accommodation, lived in by Lord Huntingdon. b. 18/19 Winchester Road: Let to various tenants being ex farm employees or employees of Kingsclere Stables. c. 20 Winchester Road: Let to Kingsclere Stables under a long term arrangement for housing their employees. This has been in place for the last ten years and continues for the next ten years. 22. Until recently, Bryan Coventry, who is responsible for the management and welfare of the livestock, has been living at 20 Winchester Road, as he also had a part time role working for Kingsclere Stables. However, this arrangement has ceased and the house is to be used for other employees of Kingsclere Stables. To an extent this property enabled him to provide an element of the functional need identified, although as the property is not within sight and sound of the farm buildings the arrangement was not ideal and losses at lambing and calving have been sustained. Bryan Coventry would move into the permanent mobile home. Bryan Coventry has also stated an intention to live in a mobile home and does not want to live in a larger property. 23. The farm employees are Lord Huntingdon (owner/manager), Bryan Coventry (livestock foreman) and Sue Taylor (part time secretary). The farm also employs casual labour at busy periods.

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24. The farm is managed on a sustainable and environmentally friendly farming basis. This involves a mixture or arable farming with bird and flower friendly margins, low input grassland and chalk downland. 25. The total farmed land totals approximately 254 hectares (628 acres). The cropping allocation for 2018 was as follows: Hectares Acres Permanent and temporary grassland 91 225 Spring Beans 22 54 Winter Oats 47 116 Winter Oilseed Rape 31 77 Winter Wheat 63 156 TOTAL 254 628 26. The arable land extends to approximately 163 hectares (403 acres) and is farmed in-hand with much of the machinery work being carried out through a contract for services agreement with a large nearby estate. 27. The grassland extends to approximately 92 hectares (225 acres) and is managed in-hand and grazed by cattle, sheep and horses. The grassland is not organic, but it is managed with minimal fertiliser inputs and the permanent pasture is fertilised by using natural fertilisers. 28. The overall grazing strategy is largely formed through the need to graze the significant area of downland with cattle and sheep and in a way which is sensitive to the environment, commensurate with the downland’s importance as “iconic downland” and in accordance with the Higher Level Stewardship agreement. 29. To put this in context, a letter of report from Harald Makant of DEFRA is shown at Appendix D. This letter explains the need for a diverse range of sheep breeds to graze the downs – with each bringing different characteristics and benefits. The letter also sets out the benefits of the grazing strategy to the flora and fauna of the Downs. 30. The livestock enterprises have been built up since 2005 and are summarised below: a. Sheep: 152 rare breed breeding ewes in total, made up of Wiltshires, Hebrideans, Lonks, Gritstones, Soays, North Ronaldshays and Jacobs. When all the sheep have lambs at foot, the total number of animals is circa 350 head. They are all lambed indoors at the main lambing and calving shed and because of the breed variations (requiring the management of seven sub-flocks with differing requirements) the lambing window is from February to the end of June. The ram lambs are castrated and sold as fat lambs from September through to January. The ewe lambs are either treated the same or kept for replacements as the flock continues to grow.

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b. Cattle: The main cattle enterprise comprises a herd of 20 pedigree Red Poll breeding cows and two bulls. There are also two Dexter cows and a Dexter bull. When all the cows have calves at foot, the total number of animals with followers is circa 45 head. The Red Poll cows are calved inside in the main lambing and calving shed and calving commences in early February and extends until the end of May. The two Dexter cows calve in September/October and are housed in the main lambing and calving shed for the run up to and duration of calving (circa three weeks). They are generally out-wintered with their calves. The cows are housed from two weeks prior to calving up to two weeks after they have calved. Therefore, cattle are housed from mid-January to mid-June. The male progeny are castrated, fattened and sold as stores from September through to January. The female progeny are reared on as replacement cows as the herd grows. c. Horses: The horse enterprise comprises of the grazing and day care of 6 geldings and fillies, owned by Kingsclere Stables, worth between £30,000-£200,000 each. In addition, the farm has had 2 young broodmares worth £30,000 each. To date, the broodmares have not been foaled on farm and the progeny is sold, but they have been kept at the Farm in preparation for visiting English stud farms. d. Pigs: The pigs enterprise comprises 2 Saddleback sows, 1 Berkshire and 1 Oxford Sandy Down sows. The pigs are housed and farrowed inside in the main lambing and calving shed and the first farrowing period commences in May/June with a post farrowing period from June till July. Appraisal under current policies 31. Essential need: a. Policy SS6 requires it to be demonstrated that “there is an essential need for the occupants to be on site at any time during any 24 hour period”. b. An assessment of the essential need for a rural worker to live at their place of work requires an evaluation of the risks involved, the type of emergencies that might arise, the losses that might result if adequate care is not given and then the potential for somebody living on site to identify any problem and resolve it. c. The commentary above highlights the livestock enterprises which are carried out on site all of which require an on-site presence. Further detailed commentary is not given within this letter, but it is widely accepted that lambing, calving, foaling and farrowing all give rise to an essential need when tested against the criteria in the above paragraph. It is further accepted elsewhere that broodmares in particular require regular monitoring and management given their high value and the high value of their progeny. Even though, at the moment, broodmares are not being foaled on site, they still need essential care in the run-up to foaling and afterwards. Similarly, autumn turnouts and pre-season fillies are high-value animals that need regular checking and constantly watching to ensure their well-being and to ward against any costly problems. d. If the functional need identified above is aggregated, the following calendar shows the periods when there is an essential need for someone to be on site:

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e. Also, the assessment of the functional need should take into consideration the future requirements of the business. At present, given there is no accommodation on site, it is not possible to foal the broodmares on site. If there were accommodation on site, then this foaling would be taking place at the site. Furthermore, as a result of potential Brexit considerations, the applicant has two further broodmares which are currently at studs in France which will be brought back to Field Barn Farm. However, as previously stated, it would not be possible to foal these broodmares on the site at the present time given the lack of any on-site accommodation. f. At present, the lambing and calving is carried out by the farm employee, Brian Coventry, who resides in one of the farm cottages. As he is now required to move out of his current cottage, the lack of any on-site accommodation will lead to a significant problem for the livestock enterprises and will bring into jeopardy the ability of the business to continue to function as it currently does. This in turn will also bring into jeopardy the ability of the business to continue to manage the Downs in accordance with the agreed strategy for the Kingsclere Downs restoration project and the important income this brings to the farm. Without the project, the current grazing and livestock strategy could not be sustained. g. It should be noted that Brian is also a qualified and experienced equine operator and he would be responsible for the foaling of mares resident at Field Barn Farm as described here. h. Given the farm is in relative close proximity to the main Kingsclere to Whitchurch Road, there have been instances of security breaches and theft. Given the value of the equine

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interests being looked after at the farm, these are serious concerns and the provision of on-site accommodation will greatly add to the deterrent to anybody seeking to either steal or harm the animals living at the site, or indeed the farm equipment and machinery also resident at the site. Similarly, with housed animals, there is always an inherent risk of fire. 32. Financial viability a. Policy SS6 also requires that the new dwelling needs to be linked to “an existing and viable agricultural,… horse breeding… or equivalent rural business”. It also requires that “the rural business linked to the proposed new building must have been viable for the previous three years”. b. Financial evidence of the business can be provided on a confidential basis but it is submitted that the financial element of the case was not brought into question during previous applications. It should also be noted that the income from the agreement with Natural England has been held up in bureaucracy for a number of years but has now started to be released. This has a significant impact on the profitability of the overall farm business and the keeping of the livestock is intrinsically linked to the income from the Higher Level Stewardship Agreement. c. The Officers Report for application BDB/69912 articulated BDBC’s concerns over the financial viability of the enterprise stating that “if this development were allowed and the existing enterprise could not substantiate a functional need for additional staff accommodation or the enterprise became of a reduced scale or indeed cease to operate, there would be questions of viably maintaining the mobile home for its intended use, given the lack of a functional requirement of the enterprise and limited evidence that the enterprise has been planned on a sound financial basis.” The report went on to say “the mobile home could therefore appear on the open market in due course or remain as an undesirable but permanent fixture in the countryside”. d. Since that application in 2009 the applicant has continued to grow the business and the business has not in any way reduced in scale or ceased to operate. This should give BDBC confidence in the farm system here and completely underscores the viability of the business. Furthermore, the applicant would be happy to look at any structure or legal restriction that the Council might want to seek to put in place to ward against its concerns that in some way granting a mobile home on the farm in the location specified will lead to creating an open market property. It should be remembered that the site here is in amongst and adjacent to the farm buildings and it is unlikely that they would ever be demand for a small mobile home in this location given the disturbance from ongoing livestock activities, the smell etc.

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Conclusion 33. The application is for a permanent mobile home to fulfil the functional need generated by the enterprise in terms of the welfare of the sheep, cattle, horses and pigs that are being kept on the site. 34. The report demonstrates that the business case which was accepted at the time of planning application BDB/62054 has continued to be invested in and built on since 2009 and the business today continues with the same farming enterprises but has increased the number of stock and introduced an equine element to the business. 35. When the current business is assessed against the relevant criteria today, being the ALP and the NPPF, it is clear that there is a functional need for this mobile home on site. Furthermore, with the mobile home in situ, the applicant will be able to put the farm unit to further use in terms of foaling the two broodmares currently in the UK and adding two more which will be moved from France as a result of Brexit. 36. The application will safeguard the financial viability of the site and will facilitate further ongoing rural employment, whilst also enhancing the overall environment of the area with the sensitive and environmentally beneficial management of the farmland in tandem with the overall Kingsclere Downs restoration project. We would welcome the opportunity of meeting with you or your appointed consultants to discuss this application further if this is deemed necessary. We would also be very happy to answer any questions raised in relation to this application as and when they arise.

Yours faithfully

Andrew Bays for BCM dl 01962 763911 m 07748 770661 e [email protected]

Please note: Letter sent by email only; original filed at BCM

Encs

Appendix A Farm Plan Appendix B Schedule of land Appendix C Buildings Plan Appendix D Statement from Harald Makant, Natural England

Appendix A Field Barn Farm Kingclere, Berkshire

Lynch 6633 12.71

1922 1.61

2622 0.28 0110 3.97 1905 0.84 Lyneham 3295 Porchester Lyneham 1394 18.61 0688 2.35 8.64 9689 2.06 Long Meadow Cromer 3374 8379 3.65 15.86 Asphanger North 5078 22.31 9967 4.58

Range NL 6774 Blue Ground 21.71 3250 18/19 Winchester Road 12.53 Range East Westcombs Lyneham 7451 9848 1041 4.37 3.86 6.14 20 Winchester Road Asphanger South 5138 Range Gallop 11.69 8458 Chalk Pit 4.34 9634 9035 1.85 6.20

9917 2.49 Butts Garden of Eden Warren 8712 Down 4013 9.73 6906 3.84 8808 8.80 16.79

8992 1.82 Down 7583 6674 0.70 Grass 9.57 4680 2.16

Down Down 6186 6864 4.57 1.52

Painshill 7851 10.78

Stubbington 4902 15.98

NG Field Name Area Type 2018 Cropping 0110 3.97 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 0688 Porchester Lyneham 8.64 Arable Winter Oats 1041 Westcombs Lyneham 6.14 Arable Winter Wheat 1394 2.35 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 1905 0.84 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 1922 1.61 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 2622 0.28 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 3250 Blue Ground 12.53 Arable Winter Oilseed Rape 3295 Lyneham 18.61 Arable Winter Oilseed Rape 4013 Butts 9.54 Arable Winter Wheat 4680 Down 2.16 Down Permanent grass 4902 Stubbington 15.99 Arable Winter Wheat 5078 Asphanger North 22.31 Arable Winter Oats 5138 Asphanger South 11.69 Arable Temporary grass 6186 Down 4.57 Down Permanent grass 6633 12.71 Arable Temporary grass 6674 Down 9.58 Down Permanent grass 6774 Range NL 21.71 Arable Spring Beans 6864 Down 1.43 Down Permanent grass 6906 Warren 8.80 Arable Winter Wheat 7451 Range East 4.37 Arable Winter Wheat 7851 Painshill 10.78 Arable Temporary Grass 8379 Cromer 15.86 Arable Winter Oats 8458 Range Gallop 4.34 Arable Winter Wheat 8712 Garden of Eden 3.84 Arable Winter Wheat 8808 Down 16.79 Down Permanent grass 8992 Down 1.82 Down Permanent grass 9035 Chalk Pit 6.20 Arable Winter Wheat 9634 1.85 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 9689 2.06 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 9848 WT House 3.86 Arable Winter Wheat 9917 2.49 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass 9967 4.58 Permanent Pasture Permanent grass Area (ha) Arable 197.92 Spring Beans 21.71 Temporary grass 35.18 Winter Oats 46.81 Winter Oilseed Rape 31.14 Winter Wheat 63.08 Down 36.35 Permanent grass 36.35 Permanent Pasture 20.03 Permanent grass 20.03 Grand Total 254.30

Area (ha) Permanent grass 56.38 Spring Beans 21.71 Temporary grass 35.18 Winter Oats 46.81 Winter Oilseed Rape 31.14 Winter Wheat 63.08 Grand Total 254.30 Appendix C

114.1m

6 Field Barn Farm 3

5 4 112.3m

2 Field House Farm Buildings 1 1 Grain and general farm storage 2 Machinery store 3 Calving and lambing shed 4 Stabling and general store 5 Stabling 6 Stabling 116.4m 7 General storage 0m 25m 50m 75m

Rising up to the south of Kingsclere, and dominating the landscape, are the scarp slopes of the North Wessex Downs. To the east of the Overton Road along the flanks of Cottington Hill is Stubbington Down and Freemantle Park Down, whilst to the west are the gallops of Cannon Heath Down and Watership Down.

The Downs were laid down in warm tropical seas 145-65 million years ago as minute calcite shell dropped to the seabed, then they were raised above the sea and exposed to erosion and weathering to create the landforms we see today. The underlying chalk rock produce alkaline soils that over the years with continued sheep grazing have produced the iconic chalk grassland of the North Wessex Downs.

In former times there would have been thousands of sheep on the downs, nibbling the grass down to a close cropped turf and preventing any tree or shrub from establishing. The work of a shepherd was to find grazing and to keep the flock in good order. The wealth of the nation in the medieval era was founded on wool and the prominence of wool to the economy is reflected in the fact that the Chancellor sat on the Woolsack. Jack of Newbury was a major producer of wool during the reign of Henry VIII. The need to produce wool drove the breeding of sheep to produce a range of sheep breeds, suited to their use and local conditions. The increasing intensification of farming and industrial revolution saw alternative cloths take the place of wool and the extensive sheep grazing decline.

Modern farming methods enabled large swathes of the rolling downs to be brought under the plough, the push to produce food during World War II, exacerbated the decline of the wide open fields that had started with the Enclosure Acts. Farming was underpinned by inputs such as fertiliser and herbicides, both of which reduced the number of wildflowers in the remaining grassland. The remnants of the once extensive species rich chalk grassland have hung on in the places where the tractor and plough could not reach, and we see that today in the chalk grassland overlooking Kingsclere.

Species rich grassland does not look after itself, and as soon as the grazing is relaxed, scrub starts to invade along with the more robust agricultural weeds such as ragwort, thistles and coarse grasses that out compete the typical grasses of the chalk. Left its own devices, the areas would ultimately revert back to the woodland and the rare and special mix of grasses and flowers would be lost.

In a project to restore the down at the back of Kingsclere to its former glory, Natural England have entered into an agreement with William Huntingdon of Field Barn Farm, to renew dilapidated fencing and where needed install new fences, so that a range of rare breed sheep and cattle can safely graze the down. With decent stock proof fencing erected a whole range of rare breed sheep, that include Wiltshire Horns, that shed their fleece so no need to shear them and they do not get caught up in scrub, Hebrideans, Galways, Soay originally from the remote St Kilda island in the Atlantic ocean that closely resembles the sheep of ancient Britain, Lonks, a hardy mountain breed from the Pennines and North Ronaldshay sheep from the Orkney Islands that evolved to eat seaweed. Red Poll cattle, renowned for their quiet temperament, have also been introduced on the hill.

The hardy breeds have been selected for their ability to open up the grass and thrive in situations where modern breeds would struggle, they attack the thistle, nettles and ragwort to start the long process of restoring the land so that in years to come the rare flowers, such as rock rose, fairy flax, clustered bell flower, pyramidal orchid, milkwort and thyme that colonised the downs when they were the powerhouse of the medieval economy can flourish again. With the flowers will come a range of butterflies such as the Common Blue, and Marbled White. With sensitive grazing the rare Duke of Burgundy has a good chance of making a come back.

The improvements can already be seen across the area, the coarse weeds are much reduced, the range of grasses are getting better and with a summer such as we have just had, butterflies were seen in good numbers.

Harold Makant

Natural England.