A PLAN to create a farm shop business on the outskirts of Okehampton was last week given the green light by West Devon planners, after the applicants overcame concerns about the business falling outside the town?s development boundary.

The Luxton family, who have been farming in the Okehampton area for generations, were granted outline planning permission to build a farm shop on land at Stockley Hamlets at a location adjoining the Mole Avon Country Store, at a meeting of West Devon Borough Council?s planning committee in Okehampton last Tuesday.

Stuart Luxton told the committee: ?We are farmers through and through ? I want to develop the business.?

He said farming and agriculture were about to undergo ?massive changes? with the removal of the subsidies system and farmers had been told they had to reform to survive.

The Luxton family has farmed at North Alfondon Farm for more than 35 years.

In that time, the farm has expanded to include Stockley Farm, where the proposed shop would be sited.

The farm consists of beef and sheep enterprises.

Stuart and his father Dudley Luxton said the time was now right to launch their own retail outlet.

Mr Luxton said initially he intended to sell his own beef and sheep produce from the farm shop, although he may wish to expand to sell his own-bred pork at a later stage, if there was demand.

Borough planning officers had originally recommended refusal of the plan, as the site fell outside the town development boundary.

They were concerned potential alternative town centre sites had not been thoroughly assessed before the less central existing site had been considered.

Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council had no objection to a farm shop facility, but members did point out the plan was outside the approved industrial site.

However, following the receipt of further information about the proposal from the applicants, officers told committee members they now felt able to recommend the application for approval, albeit with a number of conditions.

These included an agreement that the building be used as a farm shop only and restrictions be imposed on what sort of produce could be sold from the premises.

Cllr David Weeks said he was ?a little bit concerned? because the site was outside the development boundary and could have an effect on the viability of shops in the town centre.

Ward member Cllr James McInnes said he supported the application and did not believe the shop would have a detrimental effect on retail outlets in Okehampton.

?It is quite clear talking to the applicants that they do not consider themselves to be in competition with the shops in the town centre. They are looking at a business for the future,? he said.

The proposed plans show an L-shaped building which would have space for 16 car parking spaces adjacent to the north and east-facing boundaries of the site.

Members voted in favour of the officers? change in judgement, and approved the scheme.