The owner of a farm shop has shared his frustration after a proposal to extend the store was rejected. The Ravenshead Farm Shop in Main Road, Ravenshead, had submitted plans to install a toilet on site and to create more room for the preparation of food by adding a single-storey 18 sqm rear extension, as well as retaining three cold stores.
But the plans were rejected by Gedling Borough Council, which argued the extension would encroach on the surrounding Greenbelt and wider countryside setting. Owner Craig Voce, 27, whose family has owned the farm that now supplies the shop for four generations, said he was disappointed, claiming the council was "jeopardising" the business's success.
"It was an extension of a staff area, and staff and customer toilets - trying to be disabled accessible and all that. It is disappointing it didn't go through, there were two of us at the start and now there's six and we're extending into a coffee shop as well, so not getting this has jeopardised our plans," Mr Voce said.
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"It's a crying shame really. It's not really Greenbelt to be honest it is behind the shop and up against the cow shed, there's a few metres where we could build on.
Mr Voce said he felt the decision had 'knocked the wind out of his sails' and hindered the momentum the farm shop had gathered since it was set up in 2016. He signalled that he would appeal the decision and urged the council to reconsider.
"We've farmed here for four generations. We are a genuinely expanding business trying to thrive dealing with Covid and price increases now," Mr Voce added.
"We're still motoring on paying staff and recruiting more people and then the council want to do this to you. It makes me wonder what we do it all for, we try to provide sustainable food and something local for people around us but it's just sad the council can't see that."
A spokesperson for Gedling Borough Council said: “The plans for development at Ravenshead Farm Shop are not in line with the council’s Green Belt planning policies and so were unable to be supported. The applicant is, however, able to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, an independent body with powers to overturn council planning decisions.”
The popular store was recently found to be one of the county's favourite farm shops by Nottinghamshire Live. The shop, which customers say is one of the best farm shops in Nottingham, serves a selection of meats, cheeses, sausage rolls and pasties as well as award-winning homemade pies sold as a specialty.
