A popular family-run butchers shop has been given the thumbs up to extend its current site.
Award-winning G. Shearer & Son – which has operated in the area for decades – can extend their Highfield Farm store in Holbeach after receiving planning permission.
Much of the ‘quite large’ extension will be used for display cabinets and hygiene preparation.
The Holbeach Butchers can extend their store. Image: Google
“The proposed extension measures approximately 7.7m by 10m,” the South Holland District Council planning officer report explains.
“Part of the existing shop is proposed to be demolished to facilitate the proposed extension.”
Information provided by agent Cooper Architectural Design by on behalf of the applicant said: “Although the proposed extension is quite large in comparison to the existing shop area, much of the additional floor space will be taken up with additional display cabinets together with an area set aside for hygiene preparation of meat and good for sale.”
The Shearer family began butchery in the early 1900s, Gerald Shearer setting up business in Holbeach in 1950, working in livestock trading before opening the current shop – originally a garage and coal shed – in 1975.
Last summer business manager Ben Tindale was named second place in the World Butcher Wars, held at Ascot Racecourse, in Berkshire.
Shearer’s bangers also impressed judges at last year’s Butchers Pride awards, their Lincolnshire sausage highly commended while their Oriental Foo Kin Hot Choc scooped the Gold award in the speciality section.
Regarding the size of the application – which was fully supported by Holbeach parish Council – the planning officer’s report added: “Although the proposed extension is relatively large, it would not project above the existing dwelling at the front of the site.
“The extension would therefore remain subservient and it would be relatively contained within the site.”
It added existing trees and an existing building to the north of the extension would provide screening, while a small hedgerow along the southern site boundary would also provide some screening,