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A battle has come to an end after a family-run farm in Littleborough was given the green-light to create a new shop and café. Bank Top Farm was refused planning permission for the project last year due to the impact it would have on the green belt. The entire site, off Hollingworth Road, is on the green belt, which means there must be 'special circumstances' for development.

The Davies family, which runs the farm, was in attendance at Number One Riverside on May 23 to fight their corner after the latest application was called-in by local councillor Tom Besford. A farm shop is currently run from the site from a trailer one day a week. The family applied to make it a full-time operation, alongside a café.



READ MORE: Heartbroken woman's warning after dog dies following walk at Greater Manchester beauty spot Eldest son Peter and his mum Susan told the committee the plan would make their farm financially sustainable, meaning they would not have to put cash in from their full-time jobs to keep it running. Peter said it was his dream to expand the farm his mum and dad bought for the family and make it a community asset for more people to learn about farming locally. Despite the community facility being removed from the original application and the building being scaled down from two storeys to one storey, planning officers still did not believe the business met the green belt 'special circumstances'.

The committee however heaped praise on the business. The family looked emotiona.

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