Family farm wins year-long battle with council over new farm shop and café

After years of battling with the council, a family farm in Littleborough is now finally able to create a new farm shop and café.  

Bank Top Farm was refused planning permission for the expansion of year business last year due to the impact it would have on the green belt. The entire site off Hollingworth Road is situated in the green belt – which requires ‘special circumstances’ in order to be built on.

The Davies family were in attendance at Number One Riverside on 23 May to fight their corner, after the application was called-in by local councillor Tom Besford.

Eldest son Peter and his mum Susan told the committee how this plan would essentially make their farm financially viable, meaning they would not have to inject cash from their full-time jobs to keep it running.

Peter explained how it was his dream to expand the farm his mum and dad bought for the family and make it a community asset for more people to learn about farming locally.

Despite the community facility being removed from the original application and the building being scaled down from two storeys to one storey; planning officers still did not believe the business met the green belt ‘special circumstances’.

This sentiment was not felt by the committee who heaped the business with praise, with many councillors stating what they are doing is fantastic for the community. The recommendation to refuse the application was overturned, and the family looked emotional after winning a long-fought battle.

The family farm in Littleborough will now get to expand their horizons and create a farm shop and café – minus the community room originally planned.

The proposal relates to green belt land just south of the Bank Top Farm buildings. Currently their farm produce is sold from a ‘farm shop trailer’ which is towed to the bottom of the farm lane on Hollingworth Road one day a week. Now they have tested the water, the family want to make this a full-time operation alongside a cafe for punters.

Applicants Mr and Mrs Davies resubmitted their application after seeing it refused by planning officers back in August 2023.
 

Read more: Family farm denied expansion as shop and cafe plans are kicked to the kerbPublished: 01 August 2023

It was thought that this new enterprise could help boost income on the farm. The application has been met with 123 letters of support from locals, one letter of objection and one neutral representation. 

The application was called-in by Councillor Tom Besford and the chair of the planning committee Councillor Ahmed also requested that the application should be heard by the committee. Planning officers have recommended refusal of the application because ‘the identified harm (to the green belt) is not outweighed by the benefits of any very special circumstances’. 

Councillor Tom Besford, present at the meeting, highlighted the irony in the fact that a huge housing development on Hollingworth Road green belt was put forward for approval recently – but this ecological farm is up for refusal. Councillor Peter Winkler mentioned how Places for Everyone would see green belt land changed status for new homes to be built, but this smaller scale, eco-friendly operation was given the boot by planning officer. 

Applicant Susan Davies told the committee that after they were refused permission last year, they tried to work with planning officers to make the proposal compliant, but struggled to get clear guidance. Councillor Phil Burke apologised to the family on behalf of the committee for the communication trouble they have had over the last year. 

The committee approved the application, believing that the special circumstances were met by  the factors of farm diversification; improving recreational facilities; and by making contributions to the local economy and tourism. 

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter