Woodgarston Farm Shop given planning approval

Planning permission has been granted for a new farm shop and cafe near Basingstoke that promises to become a destination for local people and a place to buy top quality local produce (subject to a Section 106 agreement).

The shop, café and takeaway, plus a new access onto the Kingsclere Road, will be run by experienced farm shop operators, Cobbs.

The shop and café will be a new home for the former Cobbs Farm Shop at Scrapps Hill Farm on Worting Road, which closed more than a year ago. The new, bigger and more accessible building will be constructed on the site of the redundant Woodgarston Farm, in the parish of Wootton St Lawrence.

David Neal-Smith, property director of The Manydown Rural Estate, which owns the site, said the new shop promises to bring great facilities for local people and visitors.

“It will stock local produce in both the shop and on-site café and will allow visitors an opportunity to enjoy the area with its views of the ancient Motte at Woodgarston,” he said.

“Furthermore, there will be access from the site to an existing network of public rights of way and new additional permissive footpaths which will offer wonderful views across the rolling Hampshire landscape for all to enjoy.”

It is hoped that most of the staff of the former Cobbs Farm Shop at Scrapps Hill, who have been redeployed to other branches since its closure, will work at the new shop and café.

Tom Newey, Managing Director of Cobbs said: “Everyone is excited about the prospect of working at Woodgarston – and a significant number of additional jobs will also be created. The Manydown Rural Estate and Cobbs are looking forward to the opening of the new shop which would be a great asset to the area.”

The development is part of The Manydown Rural Estate’s diversification to serve the needs of the growing population of nearby Basingstoke, as well as the surrounding villages.

Tom goes on to say “We’ve had the Cobbs@Manydown store for nearly eight years and have been looking for a larger and more accessible site where we can offer new facilities which will include a café and refreshments for visitors including walkers and cyclists.

“The Woodgarston Farm site is perfect, and with its footpaths and views over the surrounding countryside, it will become a destination as well as a place to buy good quality local produce.”