Appeal Over Refused 'Much-Needed' East Cowes Farm Barns

A refused bid to build two new ‘much-needed’ farm barns covering hundreds of square metres near an Isle of Wight town has been appealed.

Applicant Allard lodged an appeal over the council’s refusal of an Agricultural Prior Notification (APN) to build two additional barns at Woodhouse Farm near East Cowes, which is accessed via private roadways.

Planners previously said the buildings were not ‘reasonably necessary for agriculture’ and that one of the barns would be ‘harmful to the surrounding landscape’.

Allard says the plans are an ‘operational farming decision’ however, relating to ‘existing and planned business’ growth.

The first of the proposed barns is an extension to an existing barn for housing livestock, access purposes and storing hay.

The second ‘standalone field barn’ would be used to house feed.

Allard’s appeal statement says:

“The appellant takes issue with the local planning authority’s (LPA) view that the barns are not reasonably necessary and considers this an operational farming decision having regard to existing and planned business growth.

“The case officer did not seem to accept there was an agricultural and operational need due to the number of other buildings on site.

“To rebut this assertion the appellant has itemised the other barns and buildings and confirmed why they are not suitable or available for this use.”

The document goes on to note issues with existing barns at the site including leakages, some of the buildings not meeting Red Tractor Standards, the presence of asbestos in one of the barns and another housing bulls.

County Hall’s decision report said:

“Given the scale of existing and approved farm buildings at Woodhouse Farm, and the scale of the farming operation, the LPA is not convinced that the new buildings are reasonably necessary for agriculture at Woodhouse Farm.

“The application for the field barn would be harmful to the surrounding landscape by virtue of its scale and siting.”