Alpaca-rearing business granted green light for permanent workers’ house

A mobile home in the Green Belt can now be replaced by a permanent house so that a rural worker can stay on site to supervise an alpaca herd.

The previous planning permission for accommodation at Wild Wood, Codsall Wood, lasted for just three years.

But since then the fledgling rural enterprise, which includes equestrian rehabilitation and therapy as well as the rearing and breeding of alpacas, has developed, South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee heard during its virtual meeting on May 19.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for the temporary mobile home to be replaced by a permanent house at the County Lane site – despite the proposal being considered as “inappropriate development in the Green Belt”.

Planning officers recommended the application for approval however ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, due to the need for a full-time worker to live on-site due to the nature of the business – in particular the breeding of alpacas, which were described as “notoriously difficult to rear” in a report to the committee.

A statement from applicant Sarah Dakin, read out during the virtual meeting, said: “I’m pleased to be able to say the business has grown. Our business has also developed links with local care homes and disadvantaged children – something we hope to resume once the current lockdown has ended.

“The Green Belt is a living place. It needs successful rural businesses to ensure the landscape can be improved and maintained for its benefit.

“This modest, single storey, well-designed two bedroom house is sited close to existing buildings, some distance from the road and largely hidden by existing hedges and trees. I hope that members will support the officers’ recommendation to grant planning permission and allow our rural business to grow and prosper.”

Councillor Matt Ewart, who represents the Codsall ward where the business is located, also spoke in favour of the application.

“Members may recollect I have expressed some enthusiasm for successful small rural businesses”, he said. “It is quite clear from the officers’ report this is a business meeting its targets and growing.

“I applaud that and I would very much be in a position of recommending approval.”

Committee member Penny Allen said: “Having been in Peru myself and having heard a lot of talk about how to look after these creatures I can confirm they are quite difficult to rear. I understand why (the applicant) wants to be on site.”