A FAMILY seeking to expand a holding into specialist orchid growing is asking a Government inspector to allow them to enlarge their home.

Wychavon District Council turned down the planning application by Tim Morris, of Hollyoak Nursery, Pershore Road, Little Comberton, because it would increase the size of the dwelling by 41 per cent.

Councillors said it would create a dwelling which would be difficult to sustain in the long term on an agricultural income, leading to pressure to have the agricultural condition removed.

The council added it would result in additional residential accommodation for persons not dependent on agriculture and would only serve the preferences of the owners rather than the functional needs of the agricultural holding.

An appeal has been put in against the refusal, to be decided on the exchange of statements by an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate.

In the grounds of appeal, Richard Mumford, of Timothy Lea & Griffiths, says one hectare of glass and a packhouse are to be erected and the business will concentrate on the production and growing of specialist potted orchids marketed through supermarkets and national stores.

"The production of these orchids is extremely specialised and demands great skill, together with substantial requirements of heat, which is critical and, naturally, it is absolutely essential there is always somebody on site, as even a short period of failure of the heating system would create massive losses of plants and, therefore, financial losses," he points out.

He says Mr and Mrs Morris, who previously owned a commercial nursery and garden centre between Bidford and Stratford, bought Hollyoak Nursery in mid 2003 to move into specialist horticultural growing.

Their son, Tom, works full-time on the holding, their daughter part-time, and Mr Morris's mother, who used to live on the Warwickshire garden centre site, also wishes to live at the property to be able to assist part-time on the holding.