A FARMING family has applied to create a dwelling to house agricultural workers with accompanying garage.

Graeme Walton, of Messrs G H Walton & Son, has applied to Northumberland County Council to allow the family business build the property on land north west of its Greyside Farm, in Newbrough.

Mr Walton, who is aged 81, is a partner in the family farming business which farms at Greyside, Low Stonecroft Farm and Middle House Farm, comprising a total of 1,800 acres. Twenty-nine acres of this is farm business tenancy.

The farm is a large mixed and upland unit with a substantial suckler cow herd of 220 plus followers, 200 suckler bred stores and 1,250 ewes, 300 hoggs and 40 tups.

Agricultural workers dwellings in the open countryside are permitted by paragraph 79 of the NPPF where there is a essential need for a rural worker, including those taking majority control of a farm business, to live permanently at or near their place of work in the countryside. Paragraph 83 also supports a prosperous rural economy via the sustainable growth and expansion of agricultural businesses.

Mr Walton has submitted the application as the business has a labour requirement of over eight full-time workers and a proven need for an additional house within sight and sound of the farm buildings at Greyside Farm. There was also an essential ,functional need for three workers to be on hand to ensure the welfare and safety of the large numbers of cattle housed there, the application stated.

It is also argued that, given the numbers and value of the livestock, there is a requirement to have two experienced stockmen to manage the stock, especially during calving.

The new house is proposed to be located west of the farmbuildings in sight and sound of the livestock and where further stock buildings are planned in the short term.

The application states: "In this case the farming business is moving towards succession with six of the workers spanning three generations of the family.

"In the short term parents George and Margaret Walton will fully retire and reside in the farmhouse and his brother Anthony will be available as an essential worker.

"In the medium term Anthony will remain at the farmhouse and his labour will continue to meet the essential needs of the business. However there is still a need for at least one, if not two other essential stockman on the farm and this would be met by Graeme.

"In the longer term Graeme, Anthony and David (all in their 40s) will continue as partners and hopefully grow the business. "