Hankelow farm shed can stay despite concerns

An 'untidy' farm shed near Hankelow can stay despite opposition from local councillors.

Market Drayton-based Barbers Rural Consultancy, acting for a client, has won retrospective planning approval for an agricultural building that was erected without planing consent on land south of Woolfall Hall Farm, near Hankelow.

Buerton Parish Council has opposed the application because the site address wasn't clear, there was confusion about the address of the applicant and concern at the quantity of machinery currently stored on the site.

But Cheshire East planning officers have ruled that the farm shed is an appropriate structure in the countryside and that, although the site in 'an untidy condition' the position on a country lane and scale of the shed is not detrimental for neighbours.

A report outlining the reasons for the decision says the original application form has been amended to clarify that the applicant does not reside or have a connection with neighbouring Woolfall Hall Farm.

It says the applicant works approximately 52 acres of land in six separate blocks in the area with livestock that includes two suckler cows, five beef store cattle, five beef calves, three breeding ewes with lambs at foot and four horses.

The report adds: "It is clear that the site is in an untidy condition and the machinery that is present on site is not always representative of a solely agricultural operation. However, the application is considered on the merits of what is applied for in the submission and this is consistent with livestock farming."

The only condition included is that the building is used only for livestock and associated storage.

Full details of the planning officers's report can be viewed on the Cheshire East planning website here

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