Farm shop in West Devon get unanimous support

Rural location could decrease food miles

A farm shop in the countryside near North Tawton is to go ahead against planning officers’ advice.

West Devon Borough Council’s development and licensing committee said the enterprise at Westacre Farm for Taw River Dairy would help a local business which farms with the climate crisis at the forefront of its mind.

Officers said the proposal, 1.5 miles from both Sampford Courtenay and North Tawton, is in an “isolated and unsustainable” location, with no designated cycling or bus routes, and therefore did not comply with policy.  They said the application would encourage cars to go there.

But councillors disagreed, saying the farm shop would be easy to cycle to and Westacre Farm  is already a popular location for residents who buy milk, ice cream and meat from a shed there.

Applicant Jemma Bullingham said she runs the “nature friendly” farm with her husband in a regenerative way and has an honesty box produce shed on the driveway which has seen a large increase in footfall in recent years.

Milk deliveries are made from an electric vehicle and other efforts had been made to reduce the carbon footprint.

The next step is to open a farm shop to ensure viability of the business, she said.

The access would be an improvement on the small side road that customers currently use and the plan would result in additional employment.

Produce from Taw River Dairy is available in 65 outlets within a 50-mile radius and  ithas built a strong reputation in the six years it has been operating.

Cllr Patrick Kimber (Con, Hatherleigh) said this site site does not seem isolated to the layman, with the “massive” Taw Valley Creamery nearby, a pet supplies’ distribution centre and an industrial estate just down the road.

“Farms are generally away from towns. In Hatherleigh we have a farm shop a mile out of town and we regularly shop there, it saves us a much longer trip to local supermarket.

“I would expect food miles and car use to reduce from this application. Cycling from here to North Tawton is as safe as any other route in the area and this business has an excellent long term reputation in the community. The proposal will keep money within the local economy.”

Cllr Ric Cheadle (Ind, Buckland Monachorum) could not think of a more suitable place for a farm shop than next to a farm.

Cllr Neil Jory (Con, Milton Ford) foundd it frustrating that the council sets policies to encourage farming on one hand and had been successful in getting grants to help farms diversify and now seems to be using policy to stand in the way of the proposal.

“I think this application supports our overall objective in helping rural businesses to prosper and put people back in contact with their food.”

Councillors unanimously supported the proposal with conditions around drainage.