STORAGE units could be coming to a west Dorset farm – if Dorset Council agrees a planning request for the change.

Mappercombe Farm at Nettlecombe has asked permission to change the use of agricultural buildings for commercial storage, or other non-industrial uses.

The Crutchley Farms application, supported by Symons and Sampson as agents, say the conversion of other farm buildings on the 770 hectare farm were agreed in 2014 and 2017 and have all been let, as small units, to ‘local artisans’, with the farm now having a waiting list for additional spaces.

The two buildings proposed for conversion are next to the previously converted farm buildings and include a former farm workshop and an open-sided building which is now said to be too low for modern farm machinery to use.

The farming activities already having moved to another site.

The smaller of the two units is being recommended for conversion to a small workshop unit with the large building thought likely to be used for storage.