Plan for honey and beeswax processing building in Yorkshire green belt refused

The application sought permission to erect an agricultural-style building on land to the north east corner of Highfield Lodge, close to Ulley Lane.

However, in a decision made during a planning board meeting on January 22, councillors voted to refuse the plans, after planning officers concluded the proposed development would represent ‘inappropriate development’ in the green belt.

While the applicant described the building as agricultural, the council said the processing, jarring and storage of honey and beeswax would amount to a light industrial use.

In its refusal notice, the council said the building would harm the openness of the green belt and would not safeguard the countryside from encroachment. Officers also said the applicant had failed to demonstrate any “very special circumstances” that would justify the development.

Planning documents stated the modular building would measure around 17.5 metres by six metres and would be used to process products from beehives, including decapping, extraction, cleaning and jarring, as well as storing finished goods and equipment.

The applicant said the business supplies retailers and online customers and employs up to four people during busy periods, arguing that processing closer to the hives would reduce transport and improve environmental sustainability.

However, officers noted that much of the honey and wax processed at the site would be brought in from other locations across northern England and the East Midlands, meaning there was no functional need for the building to be located in the green belt.

The application attracted objections from residents, including a petition signed by 39 people, raising concerns about noise, smells, the number of bees on the site and the potential for setting a precedent for further commercial development.

The applicant has the right to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.