We are currently doing a feasibility study with a view to submitting a planning application for a Community Cafe and Training Centre later in 2016. This would be a small, single story building on a tucked away corner of the farm, built to a high ecological specification.
The building would give shelter to those working on the land, as well as open up the site for use by the others. It would also be able to cater for training sessions and courses.
At present, the farm operates from a shed and has no mains water or electricity. The proposal is for a simple but highly sustainable structure that would offer a sheltered and seated environment with basic facilities, allowing access by the frail, elderly, children and people with mobility issues. The building would also be able to be used to run training courses and as a community kitchen.
Out of respect for our neighbours who enjoy the peace of the quiet lane which leads to the farm, and also thanks to our low carbon philosophy, we would make every effort to keep motorised traffic to the farm to an absolute minimum (bikes we encourage!) were we to obtain planning permission for the building.
You can see various images and plans of the proposed building by following these links:
Architect’s plan 1
Architect’s plan 2
Architect’s illustration 1
Architect’s illustration 2
If you would like to comment on these plans then please contact Gary Lowe of Groundwork who is coordinating the feasibility study consultation at this email address (an image to avoid web bots sending him spam!)
Our sincere thanks got to The Big Lottery Fund for our Awards for All grant which is paying for this study, to the wonderful Alan Wilkinson of KLH Architects who created the beautiful proposed designs, to lovely Gary Lowe and Anna Martin of Groundwork East for tirelessly seeking the local and wider communities’ reaction to our plan and to charming yet determined Cecil Elliston Ball of Town Planning Intelligence who is advising us on planning.
