In Great Ayton, Fletchers Farm seeks planning permission for expansion despite local resident objections regarding increased traffic and development.
Fletchers Farm Coffee Shop at Woodhouse Farm near Great Ayton is seeking retrospective planning permission for business expansion. The farming family, which has operated the farm for five generations, is facing resistance to their development plans.
In 2015, they received planning consent to convert a disused barn into a café, now known as Fletchers Farm Coffee Shop. Two years later, they were approved to establish a farm shop in a former cow shed. Since then, the farm shop has expanded, and new businesses, including a dog grooming service, a pottery studio, and a bicycle shop, have opened on the property.
Mark Fletcher explained that the council advised them to submit a change of use application to regularize the developments. He stated, “Over time, other businesses have wanted to come here because of the synergies between the different little businesses.” He noted that the silage pit is now used as a car park, which also requires a change of use.
The application has received two objections from local residents. One objector expressed concern about the significant increase in traffic, stating, “Now, as well as a large restaurant, several more developments have gone ahead, causing a massive increase in the volume of traffic down Little Ayton Lane, what is a single-track road.”
Another objector warned that allowing the expansion could set a precedent for future developments in rural areas. However, Mr. Fletcher emphasized, “The last thing we’re trying to do is upset it. At the end of the day, we’re just trying to survive, keep the farm going for future generations.”
He added that farmers must adapt and use their land in new ways to remain viable. “There’s too many things against you when you’re farming. The input costs are out of your control, the growing conditions and the weather are out of your control,” he said. “It’s only small-scale at the moment, but you just think this is the way forward for our business.”
The application is currently being assessed by North Yorkshire Council’s planning department.
| Date | Location | Applicant | Business Type | Planning Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Jan 2026 | Great Ayton | Mark Fletcher | Café and farm shop | Retrospective planning permission sought |
