Weymouth's Tumbledown Farm to expand its community use
A business plan's been approved by Dorset Council
More food growing and extra scope for health and wellbeing activities can take place at Weymouth's Tumbledown Farm in the future.
Plans to expand its community use have been formally approved by Dorset Council.
The Farm's owned by Weymouth Town Council, who want to use it for educational purposes, as well as for local groups and charities and adult social care.
Some redevelopment's already taken place at the 10 hectare site off Radipole Lane, with one building having been refurbished and land being used to grow fruit and vegetables.
But the latest plans will see three outbuildings knocked down and replaced, the creation of a car park and footpaths, poly tunnels, electric car charging point, cycle storage and solar panels for the buildings.
In a report to the local authority, a planning agent said:
“The Tumbledown Project aims to bring the land back into use for community benefit, in a sustainable way, by growing food on those parts of the site, outside the protected rich natural environment.
"It seeks to provide local community access areas in ways that provide skills and social interaction for local vulnerable people, promote human health and well-being, protect and reduce the impact on the environment, develop individuals’ and the community’s food growing and processing skills, generate income to achieve a sustainable operation and reinvest surpluses to strengthen Tumbledown’s future.”