A new vineyard could soon be coming to the Dengie, after an application relating to the proposal was approved.

Stow Maries councillor Simon Hollington has been granted listed building consent to demolish an existing cow shed on his site at Wellinditch Farm, in the village, and replace it with a two-storey vineyard workshop.

The plans, which would create two full-time jobs on the farm, require listed building consent because Wellinditch Farmhouse and one of the three existing barns on the site are Grade II listed buildings.

A statement submitted with the application says: "Wellinditch farm is currently used to keep livestock, but sets out to transition to a vineyard complex as a result of the applicant's endeavours to relinquish the demanding task of keeping livestock on this site and enter the field of vine farming."

The statement says the new building would "draw reference from the listed setting, rather than contradict it".

It adds: "The original cow shed, adjacent to the listed barn and now proposed to be demolished, was erected in the 1950s, at a time when the principles of preservation of listed buildings were not yet established."

It continues: "With conservation now established the criteria for building additions changed, making the original barn appear like an afterthought - redundant and obsolete within the setting.

"The demolition and addition of a new building is an opportunity to create a sense of place for the heritage elements."

The new building would be finished with black metal sheet cladding with rectangular corrugation to resemble timber boarding which, the statement says, "will complement the style of the listed timber barn".

The building would accommodate tractor and machinery storage, an ancillary room, toilet and kitchenette on the ground floor, alongside a first-floor workshop and extra storage space.

Granting listed building consent, planning officers at Maldon District Council said: "The loss of the cowshed, and its replacement with the proposed agricultural building, would preserve the setting of the nearby listed buildings."

Although the application has been granted listed building consent, relating to the impact of the proposal on the significance of the historic building, it still needs to be given planning permission to go ahead.

Maldon District Council will make the final decision.

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