Farm Shop - Update

Hurst Village Society was represented at the farm shop planning appeal on 10 September in Wokingham. Luff Farms Ltd was appealing against Wokingham District Council's refusal of planning permission for the farm shop on land between Tape Lane and Lodge Road.

HVS wrote to the Inspector objecting to the proposal on the grounds that the farm shop would have an adverse impact on existing village shops, and the warehouse, polytunnels and shop would be an intensification of activity on the site.

We believe the plan contravenes LC22 of the Loddon Area Local Plan, which states that farm shops should sell food or products that mostly originate from the same site or ancillary holdings, and that food from other sites should not form a significant proportion of total sales either in volume or value.

HVS also quoted LC2 of the Loddon Area Local Plan (Setting of Settlement), which requires that open spaces such as that between Whistley Green and Wards Cross should remain so.