A call for a new home to support a family at a Ceredigion dairy farm has been given the go-ahead despite a recommendation to refuse it after a previously-granted agricultural workers’ dwelling at the site was sold off.

In an application recommended for refusal at the September meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, J & C Evans, through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services, sought permission for a Rural Enterprise Dwelling at Garnfach, Llanon.

An officer report said Garnfach is a dairy farm holding comprising approximately 43ha of owned land and 26ha of rented land, managing a herd of 132 cows together with 24 youngstock and two bulls.

It said that no applications had been made in relation to the site, but planning permission was granted in 1985 for an agricultural dwelling opposite the site (now known as Gernant) in association with the agricultural holding of Garnfach.

“The bungalow had been lived in breach of occupancy condition (rented out) and a certificate providing immunity from enforcement was granted in 2023. It is understood that the bungalow has recently been sold by the applicant’s sister.”

The application was referred for committee consideration by local member Cllr Keith Henson, saying a second dwelling will “enable a young family to remain in close proximity to the farm unit ensuring that the unit is able to be managed effectively within a close distance to the business.”

His call added that the farming family “had tried to purchase the home from a sibling at a purchase price which would have been affordable to the farm business,” adding: “However the sibling declined this offer and had asked for a full open market price which she received. It is unfortunate that this meant that the second dwelling was taken out of the control of the family farm.”

Of the rural enterprise dwelling call, it said: “The second dwelling is needed to assist with farm husbandry and to ensure sufficient staffing is maintained at the business. If the other dwelling had been available, circumstances would be different, however due to differences of opinion with siblings, this property which had been given to the daughter was at first rented out and ultimately sold on the open market.”

That previous granting of an agricultural dwelling, and subsequent sale, proved a sticking point for officers in the report for members, saying: “It is difficult to now argue that there is a need for an additional agricultural dwelling to serve the holding when there was already one available.”

The officer report concluded that, while the principle of a need for a dwelling was accepted, disposing with the associated agricultural dwelling “can be seen as eliminating the ‘need,’ which directly contradicts the requirements for gaining approval for a new, subsequent agricultural dwelling on the same land”.

Cllr Rhodri Evans proposed going against the officer recommendation by approving the scheme, saying the only reason for its refusal was the historic sale of the previous building.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Members backed approval against the officer recommendation.