A Somerset farmer’s attempt to place 36 shipping containers near the River Brue has been rejected by Somerset Council. Alan King submitted the application in November 2023 to locate the containers at Brue Farm on Hulk Moor Drove in Street, just yards from the river that separates Street from Glastonbury.
Mr. King argued that the farm’s future viability is uncertain and that diversifying the use of the agricultural land through container storage would help generate much-needed income. The farm, which spans approximately 50 hectares (about 124 acres), is currently operated traditionally by the King family.
Despite these claims, the council refused permission, citing three key reasons. Planning officers determined that the proposed development would introduce an inappropriate industrial or urban element into the narrow strip of open countryside along the River Brue. Furthermore, the scale of the containers was deemed unsuitable for the site, and the increased activity caused by their storage would adversely affect nearby residents.
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This is not the first time Mr. King has sought permission for container storage at Brue Farm. A previous application to site up to 77 containers was declined in December 2021. The current proposal also includes the installation of a 2.2-metre-high security fence and partially relates to 21 containers already placed on site “as a trial.”
Representatives for Terraqueous Ltd., acting on behalf of the King family, emphasized the challenging financial pressures on the farm. They noted that existing farm buildings are underutilized, and the farm’s relatively small size limits investment in modern infrastructure. With local market research indicating a demand for storage units, the proposal was viewed as a reasonable diversification effort.
Ultimately, Chief Planning Officer Alison Blom-Cooper upheld the refusal under delegated powers, highlighting the proposal’s failure to meet countryside building criteria, its urbanizing effect on the river corridor, and the negative impact on local residents. Mr. King has yet to announce whether he will appeal the decision.