Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee refuse plans for wedding venue at farm in Hoveringham
Plans to adapt disused farm buildings into a wedding venue have been refused by a council.
The application proposed the change of use of agricultural buildings at Mill Farm on Gonalston Lane, Hoveringham to be used for weddings and events.
This included external alterations to the buildings and the use of a field for associated car parking.
It was also proposed that the main farmhouse be used as holiday lets and the use of one of the rooms for wedding ceremonies.
The application is largely retrospective as works have already taken place to convert the buildings for this alternative use and a pathway to the proposed car park has already been installed.
Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee met to discuss the plans which were argued would bring the disused buildings back into use and provide up to 15 jobs in the rural community.
Members praised the high-quality work that had taken place in order to maintain the farm buildings, however, expressed concern that much of the work had already been completed before permission was granted.
Johnno Lee, said: “This is very difficult, it is a beautiful building.
“I’ve always argued that if buildings like this are not developed and used then they turn to rubble.
“But I’m really in two minds on this because I think they’ve done a great job. However, it’s obvious that they have said to officers that they haven’t done something when they have.
“So for me, if we approve this without at least a rap on the hand then other people will feel they can do a great job and get away with it.”
Committee chairman, Andy Freeman, said: “ I agree that the buildings are far better than they were. It’s the use in the green belt that I think is a problem.”
The owners of the farm say that the application for the wedding venue would help to bring in additional income during the summer months when the farm is less profitable.
A maximum of 35 events per year between the start of April and end of October would be allowed to take place with a maximum capacity of 80 guests, music no later than 11pm and the venue closed by midnight.
Council officers recommended the plans for refusal, suggesting that the development would have a visual impact and be detrimental to the openess of the greenbelt and did not consider that any benefits to the public from the business would amount to approval by special circumstances.
The plans were rejected, with members voting ten for refusal, two for approval.