Proposals for 'prestige car storage' business at a Staffordshire farm are withdrawn

Under proposals lodged with South Staffordshire Council last August, buildings at Lapley Wood Farm near Wheaton Aston would have become a storage facility for "high-end" vechicles, with offices and a valeting operation also running from the site.

Applicants Penk Ltd said the scheme would have replaced a "deteriorating agricultural building" with a modern metal structure, with older former agricultural buildings on the site brought back into use for supporting operations. 

Accprding to an operational plan submitted with the proposals, owners of prestige or classic cars would have been able to book a storage space within the proposed new building for a fee, with valeting and maintenance able to take place on site while the vehicles were left there. 

The application was withdrawn from the South Staffordshire planning portal earlier this week.

"The applicant would like to bring the old agricultural buildings back into viable use and diversify the site along with the replacement of an existing farm building to create a purpose built structure," said a planning statement submitted with the proposals.

"A new business will be achieved which will ensure a long term viable and sustainable use of the buildings and this can also be delivered in a sympathetic way that preserves the character of the buildings. 

"It will also boost the local economy, as it will attract visitors and customers from across the region and country, many of whom are particularly wealthy, and will contribute to the local economy."