A farm in Derbyshire wants a number of modern buildings for weddings, but city planners fear it would damage the landscape.
The plans for Tower Farm on Swarkestone Road in Weston-on-Trent were controversial after a South Derbyshire District Council meeting last night (June 22nd).
City councils stressed that they wanted to support “exciting” plans for a new business that would boost tourism, but said the permanent impact on the landscape needed to be considered.
They sent officers and applicants Rebecca and Pete Lacey to find an acceptable compromise.
This can include temporary buildings until the new company’s business case is proven profitable.
Council officials fear the new business could fail and the district would then be left in the countryside with permanent buildings.
At a meeting last night they recommended a rejection and said significant changes were needed to make this acceptable.
If approved, the project would include a modern, stilted building for wedding venues (to be more sustainable) and a glass house for ceremonies, while existing stables will be renovated to accommodate guests.
For event guests, camping would also be made available on site.
Applicants intend to host 12 weddings per year at the venue and cover the investment costs within five years.
Steffan Saunders, the council’s planning director, said it was a “thorough and well-executed” business plan.
He said, “However researched and thorough the business plan is, it is a business that has not yet opened.”
Saunders preferred to erect temporary buildings, saying, “If the business is not as successful as planned, the temporary buildings could be removed from the site, while permanent buildings would have to be reused if the business fails.”
Rebecca Lacey, the applicant for the new venture, said temporary buildings would be insufficient or of a sufficiently high standard for her proposed business.
She said there is an identified need for the country wedding venue and they “have a dream” for their farm that would also be used for other functions such as business retreats.
Ms. Lacey says her business plan is “forward-looking,” including holding outdoor weddings in a “rural, natural setting” and creating nine new jobs.
She said it would help drive visitor numbers and tourism to South Derbyshire, and she was passionate about “the community we live in and the community we can create”.
Cllr Robert Pearson said he and other councilors “are stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
He said, “You have a very well reasoned business plan, but our planning framework prevents us from approving it. After the pandemic, we try to encourage new businesses and put obstacles in their way. “
Cllr Trevor Southerd said: “We are open for business in South Derbyshire and this looks like a business worth giving a try.
“It is difficult to take action against officials and even if this is appealed it would lose because it is against (planning) policy.
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“I don’t think they (the applicants) would go ahead with temporary buildings, and I would hate it if a good business plan like this got hit the wall because of the nature of the buildings.
“We are very much in favor of business moving forward.”
Cllr Melanie Bridgen said the proposed deal had “very exciting prospects” and said it should be given “the opportunity to flourish”.
Meanwhile, Cllr David Angliss said, “I feel sad when someone comes up with a refreshing business plan and only rejects it for technical reasons.”
