Report breach of Agricultural tie

[sheepfarmer2023]

There is a small holding in our local village and the owner no longer farms, moved abroad and is now sub-renting to a member of his family who does not work in the village, let alone in agriculture.
The farm is not being used, the fields are just used for the current occupier to go offroading. There's a queue of young farmers desperate for their own property/farm, The property has an agricultural tie and there have been numerous attempts by the owner to remove the tie which have always been refused - so this is obviously his way of getting around the system.

Who can I report it to?

 

[robs1]

Perhaps minding your business is a start.

 

[sheepfarmer2023]

Thats not really an answer to the question I was asking.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

There's a queue of young farmers desperate for their own property/farm,

Have any of them made an approach to buy the property?

 

[milkloss]

they should apply to remove the condition. It is most likely no one employed in agriculture could afford to buy the place anyway.

 

[Badshot]

To meet the ag tie, it needs to be occupied by someone either currently or last employed in agriculture. I think it includes anyone supplying ag with a service or supplies.

 

[Daddy Pig]

your local council planning dept.

 

[Mc115reed]

Thats not really an answer to the question I was asking.

Unfortunately it’s the most likely one your gonna get… 99% of farmers have been victim too “busy bodies” that have nout better to do than trying to cause them issues on things that frankly don’t concern them so you’ll not find too many farmers willing too do the same

 

[milkloss]

To meet the ag tie, it needs to be occupied by someone either currently or last employed in agriculture. I think it includes anyone supplying ag with a service or supplies.

Many also include forestry.

 

[sheepfarmer2023]

They did

Have any of them made an approach to buy the property?

Yes, it actually went up for sale and 3 farmers in the area (who were still living with parents) were outbidding each other to buy it. The owner got spooked and took it off the market. He was told that if he put it up for sale and gained no interest that he could remove the tie.

He has tried several times to remove it every since, unsuccessfully

 

[sheepfarmer2023]

Unfortunately it’s the most likely one your gonna get… 99% of farmers have been victim too “busy bodies” that have nout better to do than trying to cause them issues on things that frankly don’t concern them so you’ll not find too many farmers willing too do the same

But why is it fair that the younger generation of farmers are denied a place in their own village? The whole point of an AOC is to prevent this. The owner no longer needs the farm so why not sell it to someone that can use it for its intended purpose?

 

[roscoe erf]

joined to ask this question the cynic in me wonders ...

 

[Fendt516profi]

But why is it fair that the younger generation of farmers are denied a place in their own village? The whole point of an AOC is to prevent this. The owner no longer needs the farm so why not sell it to someone that can use it for its intended purpose?

Cause he doesn't want to, at least at what it's valued at now

 

[Steevo]

joined to ask this question the cynic in me wonders ...

.....what breed of sheep he actually farms?

 

[George from SJM Planning]

You should report it to Planning Enforcement at the Local Authority - most have an online reporting system. It is likely that they are in breach of a planning condition (or worst a Section 106 agreement) and if the breach had not been for a period of over 10 years it will be enforcable.

I appreciate the numebr of comments about keeping out of it but that is what allows the planning system to be abused. I have clients desperate to build properties on their farms because councils have been happy to remove AOC ties in recent years - had they not been so happy to remove the ties there would still be affordable properties for agricultural workers to buy.

 

[digger64]

But why is it fair that the younger generation of farmers are denied a place in their own village? The whole point of an AOC is to prevent this. The owner no longer needs the farm so why not sell it to someone that can use it for its intended purpose?

Because farming is a waste of time financially compared to other walks of life , life isnt fair , the rest of the population dont and nor does most of the farming community -who by coincidence own /benefit from the high real estate capital values we have in this country by accident care .
Which is also why the NFU appear to rather quiet and ineffective about some serious farming issues as they do not wish to upset this status quo and run real return on working capital businesses as they dont need to .
Owner occupied farming is really two businesses - a real estate property investment portfolio .
- a production business , day job sort of unofficial tenant of the above .
Trouble is alot mix them up , which is why we get some of the situations that would be bizarre in other business types .

 

[tractorsandcows]

Thats not really an answer to the question I was asking.

Here's another question for you
Do you report people to
the police for speeding careless driving etc
I would agree with robs
Thankfully you don't live near me

 

[Fendt516profi]

1

Here's another question for you
Do you report people to
the police for speeding careless driving etc
I would agree with robs
Thankfully you don't live near me

Is that cause you've moved abroad?

 

[DairyNerd]

Perhaps minding your business is a start.

Why? Sounds like the current owner is not complying with the AOC, they are put in place to protect rural communities from people with too much money getting planning where you wouldn't normally when they really want to build a big house in the country rather than the need somewhere to live locally because of work. Surely the OP is on the side of farmers here, can't really understand all the negative comments.

 

[wanton dwarf]

But why is it fair that the younger generation of farmers are denied a place in their own village? The whole point of an AOC is to prevent this. The owner no longer needs the farm so why not sell it to someone that can use it for its intended purpose?

Because a young farmer probably wouldn't be able to afford it, never mind the ag vehicles and land to actually farm.

To me this statement alone proves you don't understand what farming is and I doubt very much you are a farmer.

Most likely another Nimby.