Lymm farm shop hit with a council enforcement order

The order, issued to the Shepherd's Hut at Higher Oak Farm, off Higher Lane, was due to be complied with by June 1.

Unusually, the enforcement order did not appear in the public domain until recently, despite having been delivered to the parties involved on April 21.

The Shepherd's Hut opened in November 2020, and offers a unique approach to shopping for local produce.

More than 50 cabinets containing goods are in the hut, with customers choosing from the cabinets which products they would like to buy - almost like a vending machine-style approach.

Now, however, the small shop has been hit with an enforcement order by Warrington Borough Council's planning department.

The enforcement order has been issued for the following reason: "Without planning permission, the material change of use of the land to a retail use, car park and access, with associated hardstanding."

The farm shop's unique approach involves cabinets that offering a vending machine-style service (Image: Newsquest)

Included in the enforcement order are a number of steps that the farm shop must take in order to comply with the council's wishes.

The steps are:

a) Cease the use of the access onto Higher Lane for all non-agricultural vehicles.

b) Remove all compacted gravel/hardstanding from within the site.

c) Cease the use of the land as a car park.

d) Cease the sale and collection of produce and goods from the site, with the     exception of:

- Eggs and honey generated from the farming activity on the agricultural unit

- Imported produce which does not exceed 10 per cent of the revenue generated from all sales from the site

The farm shop has described itself as offering 'self-service farm produce.'

The Shepherd's Hut can be found off Higher Lane, in Lymm.