Fisher German have secured consent at planning committee for the relocation of an existing landscape business to Noake Farm in Hucclecote, Gloucester.
The business at Longford was in need of relocation due to a large scale residential development taking place on their site. The move will also provide an opportunity for the Company to expand their operations with two large workshops/offices and the ability to use adjacent agricultural land as a nursery for the production of “home grown” trees and shrubs. The new premises are within a 5 mile distance of their previous base, allowing local labour to be retained.
Perfect Fit
Noake Farm, located on the edge of Gloucester, exactly met our client’s criteria, although the site is located in the Green Belt. The proposed development required the demolition of a number of old farm buildings and the erection of two new agricultural style buildings (in excess of 1200 sq m total gross floor area) as well as the conversion of a listed coach house to a residential dwelling.
Given the location within the Green Belt, Officers considered that the proposals constituted inappropriate development offering no very special circumstances to allow the development by exception and as such, the application was recommended for refusal. However, by negotiating a small reduction in the size of the buildings and emphasising the importance of retaining the business in the area, including the employment of over 75 local staff, Members voted to overturn the Officers' recommendation and consent for the scheme was granted.
The client is now swiftly seeking to discharge conditions to enable the business to relocate as soon as possible.
Fisher German have, in recent months, seen an increase in planning and building consultancy activity in the “South West”, in particular. In addition to securing development in the Green Belt, we are currently engaged as designers and contract administrators on three separate listed building projects, located close to the “M5 corridor” between Gloucester and Bristol.
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