Sheep farm in Meer End wants permission for holiday let cabin as it continues to diversify

A Solihull farm has applied for planning permission to diversify by having a holiday let cabin on its land. Brook Farm in Meer End applied to Solihull Council in October and a consultation on the plan has been launched.

In the planning application Richard Cobb, a chartered town planner acting on behalf of applicant Kate Aldersley, said an existing let had already proved popular. A planning statement said: “Brook Farm is a small working farm of approximately 10 hectares.

“The farm currently has a flock of sheep. The cabin is intended solely for the purposes of a holiday let for temporary holiday occupation to add to the existing holiday let which has resulted from conversion and extension to one of the nearby barns in 2021. That has been very popular with tourist visitors through Airbnb and has helped improve and diversify the economy of the farm.

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“The additional cabin in this present application seeks to add to that diversification and increase the farm income to help support the farm and maintain present farming regime and livestock herd. There is increasing need and demand for short-term holiday accommodation in this area in support of the rural economy and diversification of the farm itself.”

The planning statement said one of the main issues would be if the authority considered it appropriate development in the green belt, where the farm was situated two miles south of Balsall Common in Meer End Road. The town planner said: “Proposals for ‘normal’ housing unconnected to agriculture would generally be regarded as inappropriate development and be rejected.

“However, this proposal is for a cabin to operate solely as a holiday let with only one bedroom and other basic facilities.” The consultation stage runs until Christmas Eve.

To view the plans and submit a comment search for application PL/2024/02008/PPFL on Solihull Council's website https://publicaccess.solihull.gov.uk/online-applications.