With all the uncertainty in the farming world at the moment and the turbulent milk price within the dairy industry it has been a refreshing change and a pleasure to work with a long-standing Estate Client and their tenant in expanding the business enterprise on one of their farms.
The tenant, whom came to the Estate ten years ago with just 85 cows and whom has since built this up to 500 cows, approached the Estate last year with a desire to increase to circa 1000 cows. To do so there would need to be considerable investment from both landlord and tenant. The Estate have always been keen to work with their farming tenants and hence, we started looking at proposals to progress the ideas.
The expansion plans incorporated a new 5,200 sq ft livestock shed, an extension to the dairy to enable additional bulk tanks to be housed, a new access drive to replace the rather difficult existing access and the relocation and enlargement of the slurry lagoon up to 8 million gallons. The tenant also wanted to install a new 52-point rotary parlour. We looked at the various costs, how the landlord and tenant would work together and ultimately whether it was feasible.
Both parties agreed to move forward and hence the next matter was to apply for planning permission. This was a complex project given the different elements to the expansion, and made more delicate by the fact that the site was located within a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI), a flood zone and located over a principal aquifer.
We also needed to allow for the redirection of a public footpath and allow for extensive landscape screening. We and the Estate carried out a local public consultation before submitting the planning application to enable us to address public concern over the project. Given the sensitivities of the site we required various extensive surveys including ecology, which allowed for great crested newts, bats, hedgerows and pond scoping, along with tree surveys and ground investigation surveys for the soil type in regards to the lagoon.
We worked closely with the local authority of Cheshire West and Chester Council, and drew on the expertise of external consultants for the ecology and investigations in relation to the drainage and lagoon storage. Using our building surveying department, we were able to draw up the plans and are currently overseeing the health and safety of the project.
It took some time to satisfy the requirements of the planning department and the Environment Agency but we managed to successfully obtain conditional planning permission in December 2016. Planning conditions were fairly standard and to be expected and have subsequently been discharged. Work is pleasingly now well underway. A new Farm Business Tenancy has been agreed for 25 years, which will see the tenant through to retirement.
The project has certainly been an interesting one and has drawn on many elements of expertise including tenancy matters, planning as well as future tax planning. It is an excellent example of the client, tenant and agent working together. The future is bright for the farm and we look forward to seeing the project be completed.
Planning application link. https://pa.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OALZHATELE300
Should you have any queries or wish to discuss similar project please contact Rachel Kirk MRICS FAAV in our Chester office, rachel.kirk@fishergerman.co.uk, 01244 409678.