Dairy farm infrastructure at Long House, Trevine, Haverfordwest

The site and its setting

The site is a working farm in open countryside within the National Park, beside existing agricultural buildings and near Carreg Samson.

“The surrounding landscape is characterised by traditional field boundaries, gentle undulating topography, and sparse rural dwellings. The site is not within a designated conservation area, nor is it within proximity of listed buildings or scheduled monuments. Public rights of way and key viewpoints in the National Park have been considered in assessing visual impact.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the infrastructure necessary for the farm, appropriately designed and unlikely to cause unacceptable landscape, amenity, ecological or archaeological harm.

“Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12) and TAN 6: Planning for Sustainable Rural Communities also provide a national policy framework that supports the principle of development necessary for the functioning and resilience of rural economies, including modernised farm infrastructure.”

“The proposed development forms part of a working farm business and is considered to be reasonably necessary for the purposes of agriculture. The works will allow the holding to modernise its milking operations and better manage livestock waste, contributing to environmental sustainability and rural economic resilience.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A public speaker opposed the proposal, and the applicant supported it by describing the farming system, biodiversity work, traffic arrangements and herd size.

What members discussed

Members discussed agricultural change, ammonia, slurry covers, herd numbers, lighting and translucent panels, with officers explaining the environmental assessment and proposed controls.

“[name withheld] stated that this was a significant application, constituting a major change of use from arable and sheep farming to intensive dairy farming, creating what was probably the largest dairy farm on coastal land in the north of the county. He therefore considered that it would have a very significant visual impact on the landscape and also an ecological impact due to increased levels of nitrates and ammonia.”

“In response to the speaker, the Solicitor noted that under section 55(2)(e) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 agricultural use of land was not treated as development, and therefore moving from one type of agriculture to another didn’t constitute a material change of use. Officers also drew attention to the responses from NRW and the Authority’s Ecologist, neither of whom had objected to the proposed development.”

Minutes

The decision and conditions

The committee approved the application with conditions covering approved plans, timing, lighting, landscaping, native species and surface water disposal.

“Members welcomed the expected improvement in biodiversity and the environment, and that subject to conditions, including the revised and additional conditions in respect of lighting, the recommendation of approval was proposed by [name withheld], seconded by Councillor James and carried.”

“Decision: That the application be approved subject to conditions relating to timing of development, accordance with approved plans and documents, external and internal lighting, landscaping, use of native species, and scheme for disposal of surface water.”

Minutes