Europe's biggest strawberry grower has welcomed a decision by Government lawyers to withdraw support for a council decision to refuse the firm permission to build amenities for workers.
S&A Property employs about 2,000 seasonal fruit pickers at Brierley Court Farm, a 200-acre site near Leominster, Herefordshire, every year and has been involved in a long-running dispute over plans to build a utility building, sewerage works and road network.
The firm made a retrospective planning application to develop the site which was rejected by Herefordshire County Council in May 2004.
Management had already brought hundreds of caravans on to the site under permitted development rights and started building amenities.
S&A Property was subsequently served with an injunction preventing any further work on the complex, which, it was proposed, would include a GP's surgery, cinema, disco, sauna, gym, inter-net cafe, library and pool.
The firm appealed the council's decision and a public planning inquiry was held which recommended the company remove the half-built utility building and associated works.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister dismissed the company's appeal.
S&A reappealed and learned this week that Government solicitors had withdrawn their opposition. Managing director Graham Neal said he was delighted.
