Farm canning plan approved

A Herefordshire farm’s plan to install a canning plant capable of producing three million miniature drinks cans a year has been given the go-ahead.

The proposal by agricultural installer Bourne Valley Associates, on behalf of Nicholas Layton, owner of Court Farm, Hampton Bishop, was to convert part of a redundant barn on the farm for the purpose.

A newly created company, Four Farmers, will manufacture about three million 150ml soft drinks a year, “for distribution to local companies”, the application said, adding that the plant would run “over the 24-hour period seven days a week”.

Bartestree with Lugwardine Group Parish Council did not object to the plan, but asked for lorry traffic to and from the plant to be “carefully considered”. No individuals lodged objections.

Planning officer Simon Rowles concluded: “The economic benefits of the scheme, through the sustainable re-use of a redundant building for farm diversification, weigh in favour of the proposal and are not outweighed by any social or environmental impacts.”

A condition of the approval limits delivery traffic to between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.