Planning appeals dismissed

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has dismissed four planning appeals by Herefordshire strawberry producer S&A Davies.

Two of the appeals were against refusal of planning permission for 300 caravans, ancillary buildings and a sewage treatment works at Brierley Court Farm, Leominster, north Herefordshire.

The other two appeals were against the service of enforcement notices on S&A Davies for the removal of caravans, ancillary buildings and sewage treatment works because they have no planning permission.

Ruth Kelly called in the planning appeals after an inquiry carried out by a government inspector.

Ms Kelly said in her appeal decision that developments such as the one at Brierley Court Farm require planning permission. Growers cannot rely on permitted development rights because the strawberry growing season is too long.

The Secretary of State’s decision, made on April 11, 2007, has allowed S&A Davies longer to comply with the enforcement notices. The firm now has 274 days from the date of the decision to comply with these notices.

S&A Davies is part of S&A Produce, which has sites in Kent and Herefordshire, and is the largest strawberry producer in the UK.