PLANS for a new brewery business at a farm near Andover have been given the green light after councillors voted to grant it a license - despite considerable concern from nearby residents.

An application was made by Breach Farm Brewing Limited for a premises licence to allow them to open a small ‘nano-brewery’ with a tasting room in a renovated building at Haydown Farm, Wiremead Lane, East Cholderton.

At a meeting of the Test Valley Borough Council licensing sub-committee members made the decision to grant.

Publicising its plans, Breach Farm Brewing said:“The brewery/tasting room will have very limited hours and because of our small size will not be selling to pubs and other retailers. We must rely on local customers and direct sales.

“We aim to produce a cozy space that will fit in well with our rural community and we will landscape and beautify the surrounding yard.”

They added that “a portion of all proceeds will support local charities”.

The premises includes a farm building which is being repaired to house the brewery business. The building will have four sections used for dry storage, the brewhouse and fermentation tanks, cold storage and the tasting area and the fourth will offer additional seating and a small meeting space.

The license granted allows the business to sell alcohol from Sunday to Wednesday 11am - 9pm, and until the later time of 11pm from Thursday to Sunday.

Test Valley Borough Council received 36 objections around noise and nuisance, although council documents state that some comments were ‘discounted’ as they referred to impact on local wildlife and were not considered to be relevant.

Among them were David and Jennifer Gollop, of Amport, who wrote: “Local residents and others enjoy the peace and quiet while walking the paths and woodland close by, indeed several paths pass directly or very close to the area of concern.”

They also raised concerns about competition with other nearby village pubs.

Ann Hughes stated that “litter and broken glass” were among her many concerns about the licensed premises, while Pete Acloque of East Cholderton described the proposal as “wholly inappropriate”.

In addition, 29 representations were received in support of the application with one stating that “you couldn’t find a nicer couple” than company owner Tim Hartigan and his wife, while another family said they regularly use the area for exercise and feel the business would “only enhance” it.

Addressing points of concern raised, the applicant responded: “We recognise, and state our commitment as a business to upholding, the four licensing objectives: preventing crime and disorder; ensuring the safety of the public; the prevention of public nuisance; the protection of children from harm. The three founding members of the business have training and experience in public facing roles within the brewing and retail sectors and hold Personal Licences themselves.”

They continued: “The whole ethos of the establishment will be the encouragement of responsible drinking and the appreciation of a quality hand crafted product and the subtle differences that can distinguish various beers.”

A spokesperson for the council, said: “Having considered the legal position and the arguments, the decision was made to grant this application.”