The owner of a popular Aberdeenshire farm store said he is “delighted” after winning approval for the huge expansion of his business.
The Garioch area committee yesterday granted full planning permission to extend Marshall’s Farm Shop near Kintore.
Kenneth Marshall, owner of the shop – which is just off the A96 Aberdeen to Inverurie road – said the plans had been in limbo for almost four years.
The family-owned shop sells a range of local produce including meats, dairy products and vegetables. There is also a cafe.
The floor space of the farm shop will be expanded by 800%, with an extra storey being built along with additional parking for 118 cars.
Seating for 150 people will also be available in the cafe.
The development will also bring with it new connections to the A96 – including deceleration lanes.
Councillors backed the plans on a delegated grant, despite concerns from planners about possible impact on neighbouring retail stores such as those in Kintore.
Mr Marshall said he hoped the expansion would be complete in six months time.
He added: “We are delighted with that after a long, long haul. We’ll start building within the next six months.
“I would say on the supermarket issue – we don’t think we can compete with a supermarket. We built the thing to support the farm using as much local produce as we possibly can.”
Acting chairman of the committee, Martin Ford, moved to refuse the plans adding they were “effectively a reasonable sized supermarket”.
He said: “I have to say I feel we are in danger, if you look at Kintore next door with two small supermarkets. I think the scale of this is excessive for the proposals.”
But West Garioch councillor, Sheena Lonchay, said: “People will come out from Aberdeen to visit this roadside emporium.
“We are trying to encourage tourism in Aberdeenshire. These types of developments are the type of things people want on their way to visit more traditional attractions.”
