A fruit and veg producer who wants to build a shop on his land on the outskirts of Newtown says it's "very exciting" that the plans have been given the go-ahead.
John Phillips was told by Powys County Council this week that he now has permission to build the timber-framed shop on Broniarth Farm which is located near the Newtown Bypass heading towards Abermule.
John plans to have the shop up and running selling local produce including from the family's beef and sheep farm during the next two years.
Since the plans were made public, John said: "People have said that there is nothing like it in the area. It feels like the area is crying out for something like this."
John said if the farm shop is a success it may lead to bigger plans such as an on-site butchery, deli, or café.
The planning application attracted four public responses, only one of which objected on the grounds that the development was not needed citing there were already vacant retail premises in Newtown and the proposed farm shop would "further contribute to the decline of the town centre" and "will increase people's carbon footprint".
In response, John said: "It’s a farm shop selling from our farm products. If we went to Newtown, it means moving away from the farm.
"People want to come to a farm to buy produce and I want to produce as much as I can. That's part of the appeal of a farm shop. In a town it doesn't work as well. Supermarkets are taking more away from local businesses rather than a farm shop because it's convenient.
"I’m not far from Abermule and there's no longer a shop there. This will be like a local shop for residents of Abermule. It’s keeping it on the farm. It’s difficult to please everyone."
The 41-year-old who grew up on the farm between Newtown and Abermule said the farming community has always played an important part of his life.
Currently working in forestry, John, who is also on the board of directors of social enterprise Cultivate, said: "It’s just a good opportunity to not only support the farm selling products but also local producers.
"This is a chance for me to come back to the farm and sell my own fruit and veg and expand the business. It will be based around the shop, but I'll continue work with Cultivate and grow local produce and support other local producers.
"Supporting the family farm is important. The potential is there for a farm shop and build a customer base selling our own meat, and we may expand to butchery and maybe a café as well."
John’s tomatoes and fruit are used in chutneys by award-winning Caersws artisan producer Pantri Swswen which he hopes to sell at the farm shop.
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