Wolverhampton vineyard restaurant to be extended

Family-run Halfpenny Green vineyards in Bobbington, near Wolverhampton, had a previous application for a smaller extension refused and a subsequent appeal turned down.

But planners gave the go-ahead to the larger bid, arguing the need to support local enterprises was more important than protecting the green belt.

The 30-acre vineyard and craft centre, founded in 1983, applied to South Staffordshire District Council for permission to extend at the back of the existing restaurant to enable them to seat a further 25 - 30 diners.

The proposed 45ft by 8ft expansion will cover part of the existing patio when completed. The application went against green belt policy, which carefully controls the erection of new buildings, and the local plan.

A report to the planning committee stated: "The cafe building has already been extended a number of times and these cumulative additions together with the proposal would harm the openness of the green belt."

But the agent for the vineyard in Tom Lane argued 'very special circumstances.'

He said the vineyard was 'a significant commercial entity' which contributed to the countryside economy and that two full-time jobs would be created as a result of the extension.

The extra covers could not be accommodated within the existing cafe area as argued by the inspector in the previous decision following the 2009 extension application as the business had significantly expanded in the past eight years.

Planning officers say that, as the new build is at the rear of the building and the vineyards slope upwards away from the building, at that point, the extension would be well screened.

They concluded: "Further enlargement of the building is likely to be unacceptable - however in this instance it is considered that the need to support local rural enterprises clearly outweighs the harm to the green belt."

The committee ruled on the matter on Tuesday(16th).

The wine business was established by Martin Vickers, an arable farmer who had the insight to plant half an acre of his land with vines. Today it is owned by his grandson Clive Vickers and his wife Lisa, and includes a tea room, restaurant, farm shop, arts and crafts outlets, a physiotherapy and yoga studio and three fishing lakes.