A TIMBER lodge home to a shepherd has been saved after council officers wanted to knock it down.

The lodge at Bushnells Green Farm, on Chapel Row near Stanford Dingley, was originally supposed to be temporary while the main farmhouse was built.

But since the farm has grown, its owner wants to keep the lodge permanently, as a home for the farm’s shepherd and her dog.

Planning officers at West Berkshire Council (WBC) wanted to knock down the lodge, as it goes against policy to build permanent new accommodation on the North Wessex Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Jeremy Plank, who runs the farm, said he needs the shepherd, Sophie Wernham, to help on site all year round.

He also said there is nowhere else affordable for her to live nearby, especially with a landlord that would allow a sheepdog.

Mr Plank said: “I’m the third generation of my family to farm in the Pang Valley. My mum and dad split up because my dad was never at home, and I don’t want that for my family.

“It’s nice to know that someone else is on the farm. She’s a massive part of our business.“

Granting Mr Plank permission to keep the lodge led to concerns at the council that it would create a precedent for future applications to build houses in the area of outstanding natural beauty.

David Pearson, a planning officer at WBC, said: “Granting this application permission could lead to serious problems. The lack of affordable accommodation is not exceptional, it goes right across the district.”

However, Mr Plank and Ms Wernham had received a lot of support from councillors and his neighbours.

Harry Fullerton, chairman of the parish council at Stanford Dingley, said: “Our first priority is to support farming. Farming is a business, it’s conservation, and it’s the village.”

Councillor Graham Pask said: “I think it’s significant that most of the local residents are so supportive. We should be supporting businesses expanding and developing.”

West Berkshire’s district planning committee voted six to one on April 17 to allow Mr Plank to keep the lodge. After hearing the vote, Mr Plank and Ms Wernham hugged in celebration.