The appellant stated that it was difficult to recruit staff because of the absence of on-site accommodation and the business had suffered as a result. There was a need for staff to be on site at night and accommodation in nearby villages was either limited or not affordable. Public transport was limited, it was claimed, and cycling or walking was unsuitable particularly during the winter months.
In making his assessment, the inspector noted that the site already provided three dwellings for one of the owners, a stud manager and two stud workers. A fourth dwelling had been granted permission as part of a new satellite foaling yard, but this had yet to be built and was likely to provide more extensive accommodation that that planned in the container homes. While appreciating the difficulty of securing accommodation for staff he was not convinced that accommodation in other villages further afield was not available nor inaccessible or inconvenient to attend the yard at night.
Inspector: Paul Thompson; Written representations
