A transport boss has won an appeal against council planners to erect a new grain store in Wimblington.

Haulier Tony Knowles’s application for the store, in Manea Road, was refused by Fenland Council’s planning committee in July last year - despite being supported by Wimblington Parish Council.

But following another site visit, planning permission has now been granted including additional landscaping and the demolition of an existing shed.

Last year the county highways said Mr Knowles ‘did not appear to control sufficient land’ to provide adequate visibility at the site access.

Fenland’s own conservation team felt the impact of the mass of the grain store would be mitigated by a ‘robust planting scheme’.

Officials said they felt it would “unduly encroach” upon the setting of the church - although the parochial council of St Peter’s fully supported the application conditional upon tree planting.

Concerns over the considered scale, layout and appearance were also raised.

However, the appeal decision now states that there are no objections to the proposal taking into account the conditions.

The appeal decision states: “Although the council suggests that vehicular activity to the proposed building could increase once any permission is granted, I have seen nothing to suggest that this is likely to be the case, and have determined the appeal based on the information before me. Furthermore, a condition could be applied to ensure that the use remains for grain and agricultural storage.”

The conditions include the council retaining sufficient control over landscaping, materials to protect the character and appearance of the area and the junction to be retained under the existing plans to protect highway safety.

The councils Environment Health Protection Officer also raised no objections to the proposal, stating: “There would be no noise generating plant within the development. Furthermore, I have found that levels of vehicular activity are unlikely to be at a level materially above that which would be generated by the existing planning permission.”

At the first planning meeting, agent, Peter Humphrey Associates, argued that new store would “not only complete the existing site but would also significantly enhance the frontage which is currently unfinished.”

He also promised increased traffic movements would only occur in line with harvesting and would not be all year round.