A FRESH bid for a building to store and cover farm manure in Whitchurch has been approved by Shropshire Council.

In November, Bubney Farm, in Grindley Brook, submitted a second bid for the agricultural building in mid-November – effectively a roof over a manure store to stop it getting wet.

Similar plans for a farm building covering the manure were refused by planning officers in February, 2022, for not having enough ecology assessments included and insufficient information about the application.

But on Thursday, December 15, the building was given the go ahead by Shropshire Council planning officer Jane Preece.

She said: "Officers consider that the proposal, as supported by additional heritage and ecology information, is now acceptable and capable of being planning policy compliant subject to the imposition of recommended planning conditions of approval."

In her report, she added that the main issue with the application that she had to assess was whether the impact on the heritage of the surrounding area was enough to refuse again.

However, she said: "The revised application has been subjected to consultation, including consultation with the Council's Planning Ecologist and Heritage Team.

"No adverse comments have been received in response and it is considered that the proposals can now proceed favourable, subject to the imposition of recommended planning conditions of approval as considered relevant.

"The previous grounds for refusal on insufficient information grounds having been satisfactorily addressed."

According to a design an access statement submitted by Barbers Rural, on behalf of Bubney Farm, the new application has addressed both concerns.

In its conclusion, the statement said: "The proposed building at Bubney Farm is required to effectively store the solid manure produced by the dairy enterprise.

"The building will provide a cover from rainwater entering the solid manure and significantly reduces the amount of dirty water run-off.

"The proposal is to construct a steel portal framed building for the covering of an existing manure storage area.

"The dairy herd extends to 2,100 head and a further 1,700 dairy youngstock/followers.

"All milking cows are based at Bubney Farm, together with all calves up to three months old.

"The dairy youngstock are then moved to either Buerton or a rented farm at Stafford for rearing. All dairy youngstock are returned to Bubney Farm prior to calving."