Cafe extension plans given the go ahead by planners

The success of a cafe that is run alongside a horticultural business near Montgomery could grow as plans for a kitchen extension have been given the thumbs up by Powys planners.

In March, Marcus King of King’s Nurseries at Garthmyl submitted a planning application to Powys County Council to extend the kitchen of the Greenhouse café into the car park there.

The café was opened in 2022 and has an area of 271 square metres. The extension would provide an additional 40 square metres to the building.

Planning agent Frederick Carter explained the proposal in a design and access statement.

Mr Carter said: “The café originally constructed for visitors to the
nursery has become a successful business in its own right.

“The growth of the business and its ethos to provide locally sourced quality ingredients has led to more in house production of food including baked goods, it is for this reason the café requires an extension to meet the demands of this growing enterprise.”

The proposals would be built on an existing area designated for parking north of the café

Part of the original concern with the café plans going back to the original application in 2020 is that the site is in a flood zone near Llifior Brook.

Mr Carter said:  “As the café extension will be sited in an area with potential to flood it will be raised up to protect the structure, with attenuation storage held for use by the nursery for plant watering more than accommodating the volume of water displaced by the development.”

Mr Carter added: “The business has grown substantially this additional growth will support the existing business allowing for increased development and diversity for the site with the potential to grow the local economy by providing additional employment for the area.”

Berriew community council which also covers Garthmyl discussed the proposal at a meeting in April and “resolved” to support it.”

Planning officer Natalie Hinds said: “A Flood Consequence Assessment (FCA) has been submitted and reviewed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

“The design and access statement confirms that the structure will be raised, in line with NRW’s assumption that the finished floor levels will match those of the existing café.

“As such, no objection has been made, and the development is considered to be acceptable.”

“It considered that the proposed development does fundamentally comply with relevant planning policy.

“The recommendation is one of conditional consent.”

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service