A self-storage operation on a Rutland farm has received planning approval to more than triple its operations.

Last May, Eastwell Farm on Cottesmore Road, Ashwell, started the venture with 18 storage containers on a 0.36ha site in an existing farmyard.

Since then, custom has "moved on at a pace" despite little advertising to keep costs down, with 5 customers from Ashwell, showing strong local demand.

The application from Sleaford-based C H Hollis Limited Pension Fund was for 40 more shipping containers at the site.

Ashwell Parish Council objected saying the use was not connected to agriculture, it would create extra traffic, no extra jobs and would be visible from Cottesmore Road.

A report by Rutland County Council planning staff said: "The site is located in open countryside, several hundred metres to the east of the village of Ashwell and its Conservation Area. There are no other designated heritage assets in the vicinity of the site.

"The site is a working farm that is already partly used for rental storage purposes considered to be sufficiently removed as to not have an impact on the setting of the Conservation Area although it would be beneficial if some planting were to be introduced on the site's perimeter to help to screen the proposed storage containers from general view.

"The colour for the shipping containers, as with the previous scheme are proposed to be painted dark green (RAL 6007). This is considered acceptable."

Therefore, with the application meeting a range of local and national planning polices, the application was recommended for approval.