Extension plans for Oving berry farm packhouse approved

The packhouse building at Groves Farm on Colworth Lane will enable the produce grown at the farm to ‘to grow, process, package and distribute all produce grown on the Groves Farm and neighbouring Colworth Manor Farm holdings efficiently and in a more sustainable manner.’

In the design and access statement the farm said: “With access to process and packaging facilities on-farm, crops are processed closer to source with a corresponding reduction in ‘food miles’ and making it easier to comply with ‘field fresh’ requirements and bio-security, with dwell times reduced and increased efficiency in distribution to customers.

“The reduction of the need to chill then transport produce to a separate facility, avoids double handling, lorry movements and effectively reduces food miles as crops grown on the farm are processed on the farm then distributed directly to customers.

“The proposed extension would reduce trips travelling from the Groves Farm to the packing facilities in Kent, with most operations to prepare the crop for market taking place on the farm with the HGV movements between Groves Farm and Kent being replaced by deliveries direct to supermarket distribution depot.

"The proposal would enable more crops grown on the Groves and Colworth Manor Farm holdings to be prepared and packaged for market on the farm and distributed directly to supermarket customers, reducing food miles and improving efficiency, bio-security and the sustainability of delivering crop to market.

To view the full application visit Chichester District Council’s planning portal using the reference: 22/01500/FUL