Actor Martin Clunes has successfully opposed a planning application for an eco-business intended for a site adjacent to his £5 million farm in Dorset, amid concerns it could evolve into a hub for travelers. The latest application was withdrawn, providing relief to Clunes, who had previously engaged in a four-year dispute over a neighboring property. This earlier battle resulted in permission being granted to Theo Langton and Ruth McGill to establish a permanent site for their mobile homes.
Andy Cream and Grace Burger, a different set of neighbors located on the opposite side of Clunes' farm, had applied to Dorset Council for permission to establish an eco-business. Their proposal included selling fruit and vegetable boxes directly to the local community, utilizing e-bikes for deliveries. The plan also encompassed the construction of a storage barn, two polytunnels for crop cultivation, and a greenhouse.
The applicants stated their project was an integral part of a local food system designed to enhance food security, reduce carbon footprints, and improve health and biodiversity in the region. The proposal reportedly had the support of Theo Langton, who is actively involved in promoting food security within the Beaminster area.
However, Martin Clunes expressed apprehension that the application was a precursor to Cream and Burger establishing a permanent residence on the land, situated approximately 150 yards from his farm. In a letter to the council, Clunes voiced his criticisms, seemingly targeting Langton and the decision to grant a permanent traveler site. He questioned the council's enforcement of planning regulations.
This is not the first planning application from Cream and Burger that has faced opposition. They had previously withdrawn two other applications, one of which drew a complaint from Clunes' wife, TV producer Philippa Braithwaite. An application filed in July of the previous year, alongside one for a temporary agricultural workers' dwelling, was withdrawn following objections from Mrs. Braithwaite and other locals. A resubmitted application in April, focusing solely on the farm aspect, also generated significant local comment before its withdrawal.
Clunes' letter to the council expressed his view that the current application mirrored the original, with the key difference being the removal of the stated necessity for the applicants to live on-site. He suggested that the business plan's perceived lack of robustness indicated a long-term goal of permanent residency. He sarcastically advised the applicants to proceed as they wished, suggesting the council would not enforce any rulings or conditions, drawing from his personal experience with previous planning disputes in the area.
Philippa Braithwaite had previously lodged a formal objection, raising concerns that the proposed barn could eventually be converted into a dwelling. She cited ongoing issues with individuals residing in the nearby woods and on Mr. Langton's established site, Wintergreen Barn, describing a pattern of people occupying the area intermittently. Braithwaite also pointed to potential flooding risks in the area and safety concerns regarding the site's entrance on a blind bend, deeming it hazardous for delivery vehicles. She expressed skepticism about the practicality of exclusively using e-bikes for deliveries, especially during winter, and questioned the financial viability of the business plan. Furthermore, she argued that the proposed structures would detract from the area's designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The applicants' design and access statement detailed plans for a market garden cultivating over 100 varieties of seasonal produce on a one-acre plot using minimal tillage. Future plans included expanding to orchard fruits, nuts, mushrooms, and honey. They intended to sell produce directly to the community through a 'veg box' scheme and to local businesses. Deliveries within Beaminster were planned to be conducted via electric bicycles to minimize the carbon footprint. The applicants contended that local production would decrease reliance on imported goods, bolster resilient local food supply chains, and support the local economy.
Theo Langton, a resident of the area for over 30 years and a former town councilor, supported the application in a letter. He highlighted his involvement in the community's Emergency Resilience Plan and stated his agreement with the applicants' small-scale, ecologically diverse approach. Langton emphasized the importance of food security as a pillar of community resilience, criticizing the current food delivery systems as potentially fragile in the face of climate change, resource competition, and global instability. He suggested that an application like this could be considered critical local infrastructure in light of these challenges.