Martin Clunes Wins Planning Dispute Near Farm

Actor Martin Clunes has successfully navigated a planning dispute that threatened to impact his rural property. A recent application by neighbors, Andy Cream and Grace Burger, to establish an eco-business selling fruit and vegetable boxes via e-bike delivery, which would have involved constructing a storage barn, polytunnels, and a greenhouse, has been withdrawn. This decision follows Clunes's vocal opposition, rooted in fears that the development could evolve into a permanent residential site, potentially transforming into a hub for travelers.

The withdrawal comes after Clunes lost a separate four-year battle earlier this year. In that instance, neighbors Theo Langton and Ruth McGill were granted permission to convert their temporary mobile home site into a permanent one. The latest application by Cream and Burger was located on the opposite side of Clunes's farm from Langton and McGill's property.

Clunes, 64, expressed his concerns in a letter to Dorset Council, suggesting that the business plan was a pretext for establishing a permanent residence. He noted that the application was similar to a previous one, with the only change being the removal of the stated necessity for the applicants to live on-site. Clunes's wife, TV producer Philippa Braithwaite, also lodged objections to previous applications by Cream and Burger, citing ongoing issues with unapproved developments in the area and concerns about practicalities such as the site's proximity to a flood-prone area and a blind bend on the access road.

Cream and Burger's proposed business aimed to create a traditional market garden cultivating over 100 varieties of seasonal produce. Their stated goal was to sell these goods directly to the local community through a 'veg box' scheme and to local businesses. They emphasized the use of electric delivery bicycles for local deliveries to reduce the carbon footprint and enhance local food security.

Theo Langton, a long-term resident and advocate for local food security, had written a letter supporting Cream and Burger's application. He highlighted the importance of resilient local food systems in the face of climate and ecological emergencies, resource competition, and global instability. Langton argued that such small-scale, ecologically diverse agricultural projects are crucial for community resilience and local infrastructure.

This latest withdrawal marks the third planning application by Cream and Burger to be rescinded after facing objections. It remains to be seen if they will submit a revised proposal in the future.