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Planning appeal win by Wolverhampton law firm supports economic growth in the countryside- 24/11/2011
Wolverhampton law firm FBC Manby Bowdler LLP has won a planning appeal which has secured the future of a thriving farm shop and tea room and saw the Planning Inspector supporting economic growth in a Green Belt area.
Niall Blackie, Senior Partner, Solicitor-Advocate and Head of Town and Country Planning at FBC Manby Bowdler, successfully represented The Old Yarr Estate, based near Redditch, at a planning hearing where the local council sought to reduce the size of the Estate’s farm shop and restrict the use of the outdoor seating area for its tea room.
Following the hearing, the Planning Inspector decided that the outdoor seating area for the tea room which provides seating for a further 20 people could remain and the toilets and storage sheds for the shop and butchery were also granted permission. The Old Yarr Farm Shop sells meat reared on the Old Yarr Estate as well as fresh locally sourced produce. It is now also able to provide a selection of quality produce from elsewhere in the country, enabling a wide range of fine produce to be made available to its customers.
Mr Blackie said: “The Inspector reflected government policy of supporting economic growth and saw that this could be achieved here without harm to the amenities of the neighbourhood. This will allow the farm shop and tearooms to survive and flourish and is a good marker for farmers and landowners looking to diversify their business interests.”
Mr Blackie and his team supply specialist legal advice on a wide range of town and country planning issues, particularly on the more contentious aspects of planning applications. The team have also considerable experience in dealing with all kinds of planning appeals against refusal of planning permission, as well as dealing with High Court challenges, site promotion, lawful use of land, enforcement and prosecution.