Lancashire's Michelin Guide Eight at Gazegill refused permission for restaurant

One of the country’s top restaurants has been refused planning permission over its building.

Organic farmers Ian O’Reilly and Emma Robinson opened Eight at Gazegill at Lower Gazegill Farm, Rimington, in March 2024 in a bid to diversify their income and offering.

In less than two years they cemented their place among the country’s top-table of food talent by combining with chef Doug Crampton, and in February were rewarded with a Michelin Green Star. They also took home two Lancashire Tourism Awards.

But behind the scenes they have been battling a planning headache with Ribble Valley Borough Council - because the restaurant operation is more than the tearoom they initially set out to create.

Now they have had their application refused for retrospective permission to continue use of the single storey restaurant building, outdoor seating area, play area and vehicle parking area.

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What’s the issue?

Farm bosses were granted permission for the erection of a cafe building on site, as part of a recognised diversification scheme. The foundation was poured in October 2018, but the build duration was significantly extended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated cashflow constraints affecting the business.

During the construction period, the nature of the food service offering evolved beyond the originally envisaged tearoom operation. The application sought to formalise the development for the restaurant operation that “has become integral to the agricultural viability of this traditional Pennine mixed livestock farm” and supports 39 jobs.

Management argued there were no unacceptable highway safety impacts and that retrospective planning permission should be granted “on the basis that the development represents an exemplary model of sustainable rural diversification that secures the long-term future of a working farm while delivering substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits to the local area.”

Speaking to the Post in February, Mr O’Reilly said the issue was a “technicality” and hoped it would be resolved shortly.

But planning officers disagreed.

What does RVBC say?

Planning officials at RVBC refused the application for three main reasons. These were:

- They said insufficient evidence had been submitted to demonstrate that the scale of the proposed development constitutes a farm diversification scheme. They also said no sequential test has been provided to justify this main town centre use within a rural area and “furthermore, the type of development is not considered to be appropriate development in a rural area and patrons and staff would be reliant on the use of private motor vehicles to access the site.”

- They said that retention of the unauthorised development “would lead to the intensification of use of Dancer Lane which lacks the adequate width and has a lack of passing facilities, lighting and footways deemed safe and suitable for such a proposal.” They said that necessary highway improvements to Dancer Lane cannot be secured due to land ownership constraints.

- That the access serving the application site lies within flood zones 2 and 3 and so is at higher risk of flooding and this provides the only means of entry and egress from the application site.

Eight at Gazegill is open and currently taking bookings. Management have been contacted for comment.