THE future of a ground-breaking pedigree cattle breeding business remains uncertain after councillors failed to reach a final decision on plans for a worker's home in Wensleydale.

Proposals for a bungalow just outside Finghall, near Leyburn, were rejected, but Richmondshire District Council environment and planning committee wants further information from experts before the final decision is made.

The application was defeated on the casting vote of chairman Coun Jim Fryer after planners recommended refusal.

Independent consultants Mouchel had already concluded that a house was "desirable" but not "essential" to the operation of a proposed isolation unit.

Penty Farming, whose work on embryo transfer to produce black polled Limousin cattle has been described as "cutting edge" technology, wants to create an isolation unit on land at Chapel Lane.

Legislation introduced after the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001 means returning show cattle need an isolation unit to comply with Defra's 20-day rule.

John Penty told the committee on Tuesday that the future of the farm depended on having the new unit and associated house.

"I have two sons who wish to remain in farming, which is a rarity in these times. Without this diversified project there will not be sufficient return from the farm to keep two farming families," he said.

He had also become a grandfather for the first time at the weekend and hoped there would be a future in farming for his grandson.

The meeting heard the farm had three pedigree black bulls, unique in Europe, which required isolation and security.

The planning application split the community of Finghall, with some residents backing Mr Penty's proposals and others objecting.

Alex Blair told the committee that the bungalow would be outside the permitted development boundary of the village and said the Mouchel assessment deemed it unnecessary.

He said the unit need not be sited at Finghall, but could be at the Pentys' other holding at Burneston, near Bedale.

Fellow objector Jean Herbert said the bungalow would be highly visible in an area of great landscape value.

Peter Featherstone, the council's development control team leader, said planning policy allowed new homes in open countryside only when agricultural need was proved.

Coun Jane Parlour - herself a farmer - said it was important that the committee looked at the application on planning grounds, and not on issues of economic development. Mouchel's assessment must be taken on board.

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