Bath & North East Somerset Council planners have refused to approve new barns and storage containers related to the rearing of birds for game shoots on a farm near Bath.
There is already an enforcement case relating to the development at Upper Baggridge.
Prior approval was being sought for three agricultural storage barns measuring more than six metres in height, along with six storage containers.
Wellow Parish Council lodged an objection, pointing out that the application for land at Baggridge Farm states the buildings will be for agricultural use, whereas the intention is for them to be used in conjunction with rearing game birds for sport.
The parish council said: “We would point out that this activity does not come within the statutory definition of ‘agricultural’ and we therefore submit that the buildings should not be classed as permitted development, rather should be the object of an application for change of use and full planning permission.”
Another objector reported to B&NES Council that “a very large set of barns has been built on Green Belt land at Baggridge Hill, Wellow, without planning permission”.
They said: “I understand that these buildings are not being used for agriculture, as per the application, but instead in connection with pheasants that are shot for sport.
“They are very large buildings and loom over the Wellow valley, having a huge impact on the beautiful landscape, including areas of the Cotswolds National Landscape.
“Is there anything that can be done to halt further construction, and have these buildings removed?”
B&NES Council planners said in their assessment of the application that the buildings are described as “agricultural stores” to store feed, bedding and farm equipment and reference recommendations that this should all be stored indoors following outbreaks of avian influenza across the UK.
The planning officers said that in 2022 an application for a 200-metre agricultural track and 40-metre by 20-metre area of hardstanding for this parcel of land was approved as it would allow the field to become more productive, meeting its agricultural needs.
However, no consideration was given at the time to the site hosting bird cages or for pheasant rearing.
“Local representations highlight that bird cages have since been erected on this hardstanding. A related enforcement case has received representations that the land is in use for the commercial rearing of game birds, as well as reports that the works are proceeding.”
In refusing the development, the planning officers said the rearing of birds with the express purpose of shooting game would be a material change of use from agriculture: “As such, the erection of three barns and six storage containers associated with the express purpose of rearing game would not be agricultural.”
