An application was made on behalf of our client for a change of use of land from agriculture, to mixed agriculture and education, including the installation of a parking area, polytunnel, and a building for use as teaching space.

The proposed use is for a Care Farm, intended to run sessions for disadvantaged and disabled people to teach skills such as horticulture, animal husbandry, woodland management, nature, wool and willow weaving, and outdoor cookery.

The site is within the Bristol/Bath Green Belt and outside of any designated settlement boundary. The site is near a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Our team put in a Planning, Design and Access Statement to support the application. We were able to demonstrate that this facility improves the quality of life of many youngsters with learning disabilities living in the district.

Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that the proposal met the demands of national and local planning policy, as the building and the polytunnel serve an agricultural/horticultural purpose, which are appropriate uses in the Green Belt.

The council approved the application.