Resident allowed to build a lambing shed on smallholding at Llanvapley
Abergavenny Chronicle - 2 January 2003

A LLANVAPLEY resident has won a planning appeal to the National Assembly for permission to build a shed for agricultural use.

Robert Harris’ application for planning permission to build a tractor implement shed with a lambing area, foaling box and hay storage, on land located at the northern edge of Llanvapley, had been refused by Monmouthshire County Council.

Councillors went against officers’ recommendation to grant the application in May 2002, on the grounds that the proposal would be ‘intrusive in the landscape by virtue of its siting in a prominent location,’ and that they considered the building to be ‘excessively large in relation to the area of land comprised in the agricultural unit it is proposed to serve.

The application was also refused on the grounds that the visual intrusion it would cause would be ‘unwarranted.’ Neighbours had raised objections to the plan. Mr Harris, who farms seven acres he owns, plus 20 rented acres, appealed against the refusal.

The National Assembly allowed the appeal and granted planning permission for the erection of the shed on condition that the development could not begin until ‘precise details of the external materials to be used for building,’ and its ‘precise location,’ were agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

The building was allowed on condition that it should only be used for activity and the storage of items associated with agriculture and for no other use without the prior written approval of the local planning authority.

Mr Harris said he was thrilled by the decision as many of his ewes were due to give birth. An early pair of twin lambs had already been born before Christmas. He said, “It’s sad it had to take so long. We lost a lot of lambs and ewes last year because of the cold weather and the fact that we had no shed for them to keep warm in.”

He added, “We’re just relieved it’s all sorted out now and we can get on.”

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