A DECISION is set to be made on controversially building a huge new mushroom farm in Pinvin next week.

The plan by Walsh Mushrooms would see the new farm built on more than 32 acres of fields off the A44 in Pinvin near Pershore.

The facility would include 69 polytunnels and a number of related buildings totalling more than 50,000 square metres.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee meets in Pershore on Thursday (April 28) to make a decision with a recommendation from officers that it is given the green light.

Building the new mushroom farm will create more than 300 jobs according to the application.

The scheme will also include a two-storey building with offices, canteens and changing rooms, a cold store and packing shed, workshop and storage building, three-bed manager’s bungalow, water treatment plant and six dock levellers as well as 122 parking spaces.

The number of polytunnels expected to be built was reduced to 69 from 81 following criticism from residents in Pinvin.

Objections to mushroom farm in Pinvin

More than 150 objections were made during public consultation with many criticising the size of the farm and the disruption it would cause.

Governors at Pinvin CE First School and St Nicholas CE Middle School have also criticised the plans saying the farm would be a “significant health and safety risk for staff and children” and have a “detrimental impact on outdoor play and activities.”

Pinvin Parish Council also objected to the plan saying it was far too big and out of character for the village.

Walsh Mushrooms, owned and run by the Walsh family around Evesham for more than 35 years, is of the biggest producers of fresh mushrooms in the country and grows and packs up to 450 tonnes of mushrooms every week from its current home in Vale Park in Evesham.

A report, which will be discussed by councillors at the planning meeting, said the new farm should be backed.

Officers said that there would be “inevitable” impacts on the landscape but the farm would not look out of character.

Planners also said that despite the “strong” local concern there were no other main objections.