ANOTHER Cotswold farmer says new animal welfare and hygiene standards are forcing him to move his entire farm business.

Owner Henry Pond, who lives in Australia, wants to move the farming operation managed by Paul Teague from Redhill Farm in Broadwell to nearby Green Barn Farm, building a new set of farm buildings and converting his old ones into industrial and office units and new homes.

His application follows hard on the heels of a plan from Lower Swell farmer David Oughton to build a new farm unit and pay for it by building homes on the site of his old one. His plan, also put forward because his old farm buildings do not meet the latest standards, is now the subject of negotiations with planning officers.

Mr Pond's scheme has been welcomed in principle by Broadwell Parish Council and by district councillor Carole Topple, who told a meeting of the district's development control sub-committee (north) yesterday (Wednesday): "I think that the scheme that has come before us is an extremely good one."

A letter to the committee from solicitors representing Mr Pond said of the livestock buildings at Redhill Farm: "These buildings are no longer suited to modern farming and do not accord with the requirements of the Assured Combinable Crops Scheme and the Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb Scheme.

It added: "These schemes are intended to ensure that food is produced at the highest standards of welfare and hygiene."

Mr Pond wants to build a new farm unit covering 2,183 square metres at Green Barn Farm, convert the existing Redhill Farm buildings to office and light industrial use, convert nearby Field Barn into a house, and build a new terrace of five homes at Redhill Farm yard.

His plans, though, have stirred up some opposition in the village. Parish councillors have expressed concerns about the design of the new homes and the Field Barn conversion and nine residents have complained about the business conversions, fearing an increase in noise, traffic and accidents. Others say the new homes are too many and are unimaginative in design.

Councillors yesterday (Wednesday) agreed to put the application on hold until they had visited the site to see it for themselves.