PLANS that could see a farm shop built near Highclere are set to be decided on Wednesday.

Developers are planning the demolition of a farmhouse at Sungrove Farm, in East End, with a new multi-use building to replace it.

If approved by the Development Control committee at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on Wednesday, the facilities in the new building will include a farm shop, gift shop, bakery and a plant nursery.

The applicant also proposes to add a café/restaurant and educational space.

The application was first submitted in 2019 and a public exhibition has informed it, with changes being made to the parking location after hearing from residents.

Neighbours were concerned with the location of parking resulting in "sounds of turning on the gravel, shutting of doors and so on".

But parking has been moved to appease these concerns, as well as activities on site being scaled back.

Planning officers at BDBC have recommended the project for approval.

This is despite many objections to the scheme.

239 public comments have been received, with 179 objections and 58 supporting.

Documents submitted alongside the application read: "The applicants wish to make the most of the site alongside an increasingly popular garden tour operation for the main house and gardens opposite the site.

"The existing house at Sungrove is of little architectural merit, as are the farm buildings and yard, and there is an opportunity to create a place which is wholesome, of a better design and well landscaped, convenient for the locals and dovetails positively with an existing business."

You can see full details of the scheme by going searching 19/02956/FUL at planning.basingstoke.gov.uk.