Soft play facilities at Cobb's Farm draw one step closer

Initial plans proposed a free standing building to house the children’s play area, which failed to find approval from West Berkshire Council planners at committee and Her Majesty’s Planning Inspectorate on appeal due to the business’s location in the North Wessex Down’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Instead, Country Food and Dining Co Ltd, which owns Cobb’s Farm Shop and Kitchen in Hungerford, is now looking to convert first floor office and storage space with small extensions on both floors.
Director of Country Food and Dining Co Ltd, Tom Newey, said the kitchen facilities would be extended to allow for increased production of items made with ingredients grown at the site, such as jams and preserves, ready meals and smoked meats.
Mr Newey stressed that such items would only be sold at Cobb’s Farm Shop and would not be sold via any third party businesses, so would benefit only the Hungerford economy.
Approval was proposed by Hungerford ward member Paul Hewer (Con) and seconded by Virginia Von Celsing.
However, despite the approval, the application will have to go before the council’s district planning committee, with policy officers concerned that it could take custom away from businesses in Hungerford Town Centre.
Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley) was the only councillor not to vote to approve the application, and instead abstained on the grounds that she did not agree with policy officers that it could have a negative impact on the town’s high street.
“People will come here then go into Hungerford to do their shopping,” she said. “They will use it as a tourist destination.”
The date of the district planning committee at which this application will be discussed has not yet been confirmed.