An expansion is being planned at a Wootton Fitzpaine flower and foliage business.

The company, which has provided items to Buckingham Palace, is asking for planning permission for a processing building/workshop and for two new polytunnels at the site off Champernhayes Lane.

The proposed processing building would be sited adjacent to the northwest boundary, north of the existing polytunnel with the two additional polytunnels close to the southern corner of the site.

The timber frame building requested will be 16m x 7m with a roof height of 4.7m, having rendered straw bale walls, board timber cladding and a corrugated roof. The doors and windows will be shuttered using wooden Z doors to help with internal temperature control. Solar panels are proposed on the southern facing roof slope.

Internally the building will have an open space which runs the length of the northern side and two rooms to be used for welfare and office purposes including an office/kitchenette and toilet.

The polytunnel proposed closest to the fence would measure 18m x 6m. The second polytunnel, slightly longer, would be a Spanish design, which allows for the plastic to be tied back or removed completely depending of the growing conditions desired. Within the winter months the plastic sheeting on this polytunnel would be removed completely.

Owners Jonny and Zanna Hoskins say that the current conditions on the site are inadequate to fully support the business and although they have a rented workshop in Bridport the distance from the growing site is a problem, resulting in a lot of work being carried out under makeshift shelters, subject to the weather.