Overbury Estate Grainstore

Case Study>> Rural Agricultural>> Middle Barn Farm, Overbury Estate, Overbury, Gloucestershire

Client>> Overbury Estate

Project>> Replacement Grainstore Facility

 

GP Planning Ltd successfully obtained planning permission in 2015 for the erection of a replacement grainstore and drying facility at Middle Barn Farm for the Overbury Estate.

Middle Barn Farm is an existing farm yard located south of the village of Overbury, close to the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) within a rural river valley landscape on the lower slopes of Bredon Hill.  Bredon Hill is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) noted for its invertebrate species.  Within the vicinity of the farm yard are three Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and a small proportion of the existing farm yard is covered by a Scheduled Ancient Monument designation known as the Enclosures and Ring Ditches West of Crashmore Lane.  The Grade II* Registered Park and Garden, known as Overbury Court, is located within the village of Overbury to the north.

The planning application sought to demonstrate that the new grainstore and drying facility would not have a detrimental impact on the visual amenity or landscape character of the AONB; that there are no impacts on the Bredon Hill SAC or local ecology; the heritage value and setting of heritage assets will not be affected; and there will be a reduction in noise impacts as a result of using modern equipment in a well designed building on nearby properties.  A clear need for the facility and the agricultural and rural economic benefits it would bring was evident, enabling the farm to continue contributing to the growth of the Agri-Tech sector within Worcestershire.

Through careful design and the inclusion of renewable energy generation the facility is considered sustainable, enabling the farm buildings to be self sufficient in energy generation.