A COUNTRYSIDE protection charity said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ that a controversial plan for a ‘farm shop’ and café targeting tourists north of the A30 at Whiddon Down had been allowed on appeal.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Devon said planning inspector Hollie Nicholls’ decision did not ‘in any way respect the views of the local community’.

Applicant Jack Mann’s proposal for a shop, café and storage, toilets, offices and kitchen space was turned down by West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) in February.

Eight out of ten councillors on WDBC’s development management and licensing committee went against a planning officer’s recommendation to approve the scheme, apparently because of the scale of local opposition.

In rejecting the plans, they said the proposal had the ‘potential to harm existing villages by diversion of trade’.

They also said the plans amounted to ‘unrestricted retail use on a site in open countryside unrelated to a settlement and to an existing horticultural and agricultural business’.

There were also concerns about the impact on the habitat of dormice, a protected species known to nest in the hedgerows along the site.

However, in an appeal decision published last week (November 12), planning inspector Hollie Nicholls granted planning permission for the scheme to go ahead.

While admitting that the proposal could not be considered a farm shop in the sense of being on a farm, she said that it would bring major benefit to local food producers because 75% of the produce sold must be ‘produced within immediate and adjoining parishes’.

She appeared to support the proposal as a service station, saying: ‘The convenience of its location adjacent to the A30 and the broader range of facilities it would offer those wishing to take a respite from a journey along it are factors that weigh in favour of the proposal.’

She said it would also create jobs and benefit the economy.

A condition is to be attached to enforce the requirement that 75% of produce must be from Whiddon Down or its immediate neighbours. There is also a condition stating that the shop should not sell newspapers and magazines, stationery or pharmacy products to avoid competing with other outlets in Whiddon Down to the south of the road.

There will also be conditions preventing the café from serving hot food during the evenings to avoid it taking evening trade from the pub in Whiddon Down. And a restriction will be placed to prevent the shop being expanded in the future above its proposed 247 square metres.

Applicant Jack Mann said on Tuesday: ‘Of course I’m delighted that the appeal has been allowed.

‘It will bring huge economic benefits to the local area and the local community as well as employment – we are going to create up to 15 full-time jobs.

‘As you can see from the planning appeal notice we are restricted to selling products from the immediate area so this is going to have a direct impact on the local communities around us. We want this to directly benefit the local producers, growers and butchers.

‘I know there has been a lot of opposition but now the decision has been made we want it to be a community-focused project. We very much intend to put back into the local community where we can, not just in stocking local produce but in other ways as well.’

Penny Mills, director of CPRE Devon, said though:‘Given the overwhelming number of objections to this proposal, including ours, CPRE Devon is extremely disappointed to hear that the planning inspectorate has decided to allow the appeal and grant planning permission for a farm shop, café and ancillary buildings at Whiddon Down.

‘We feel that this decision does not in any way respect the views of the local community.

‘Since the decision was announced, we have been contacted by many local people who are extremely disappointed that their opinions have been ignored.’

The application attracted 34 letters of objection from locals when it was originally submitted, although there were also six letters of support.