THE future of a farmshop turning over £200,000 a month could be in doubt if a request for retrospective planning permission is rejected.

The shop at Riverside Farm, Pool Road, Otley - on the site of the working Knotsford Nook Farm - was built during April 2021 before opening in May 2021. But owners, Mr and Mrs D Asquith, did not get prior planning permission from Leeds City Council.

In December 2021 a complaint was made to the council that the farm shop was breaching planning regulations. The owners sought advice from the council who advised a retrospective planning application be submitted.

The farmshop comprises two artic-lorry trailers joined end-to-end on a pre-existing concrete hardstanding at the farm entrance. The shop is clad in stained timber horizontal boarding in an agricultural manner, with flat roofs.

A design and access statement prepared as part of the application reveals the owner's daughter left her employment in February 2021 at a local animal supplies shop.

The statement says: "Whilst searching for a similar job she was contacted by many previous customers requesting an alternative animal-feed supplier. Thus began the present farm shop notion. But it was soon apparent that customers entering the farmyard were a safety risk. So a separate building was placed immediately at the existing entrance, discrete from the farmyard."

It adds: "At mid-March the start-up turnover began at £300/week rising steadily. May trading turnover was £13,000. VAT registration occurred October 2021, with two part-time workers augmenting the, now, full-time daughter. Turnover for the month February 2022 is expected to reach £200,000.

"Sales are 85 per cent Riverside Farm produce (including eggs, meat, dried-logs, hay, haylage) and 15 per cent other goods (hedgehog and wild-bird food, pet supplies).

"In November an existing container at the west side of the entrance was modified to be ancillary storage.

"Another (unexpected) benefit to the farm is despite the daughter’s previous employer cancelling orders for logs, hay and haylage actual demand for those items has risen, meaning one seasonal-employee is now full-time employed in their production for the farmshop."

The report says the shop attracts four to five cars an hour, which park on the lane by the entrance and there have been no traffic problems. It adds there is space for six parking bays if required.

However, a report by a council highways officer says the proposal raises road safety concerns and is not acceptable in highway terms as submitted.

The retrospective application is pending consideration by planning officers at Leeds City Council.