A FARM near Chester with a long-term vision to produce "boutique sparkling apple cider" has had revised plans to build a waterside holiday lodge approved.

The owners, who purchased Duddon Mill Farm in Duddon, near Tarporley, back in 2019, are aiming to make the site profitable again through diversification.

The 45-acre site has an extensive apple orchard which will produce cider in the coming years from the fruit grown on the farm.

In order to get the cider business off the ground, the owners want to bring in additional income by offering "small scale tourist facilities".

They had initially submitted plans to Cheshire West and Chester Council for three holiday lodges but later reduced the proposal to one instead.

The self-catering, timber lodge will be erected at the side of an existing pond in an "idyllic location".

The full planning application, prepared by Cheshire Planning Solutions Ltd on behalf of Mr and Mrs Shrigley-Feigl, states: "The property was purchased by the current owners in 2019 and they wish to return the farm to profit again, by diversifying the holding to increase revenue and provide small scale tourist facilities.

"At present the farm produces little income and yet the owners still have to meet the ongoing costs of managing the farm each year. There is an extensive apple orchard which produces 10 tons of apples each year.

"The long term aim is to produce a boutique sparkling apple cider within the next few years, from fruit grown on the farm. In order to assist with the set up costs of the cider business, the applicants will need additional income from the farm.

"The holiday lodge around the pond on the farm could provide much needed additional income, enabling the applicants to diversify into a profitable farm once again."

It adds: "The lodge will be promoted for the idyllic location and it is assumed that the majority of visitors will initially be attracted to the site for walking or cycling holidays due to the proximity to the local footpath networks and cycle routes around this part of Cheshire.

"The scheme aims to create a peaceful environment; creating visitor accommodation, that by design and materials used, sits harmoniously within the natural landscape.

"With no hardscaping included, the proposal is for the timber lodge to be built on stilts, to ensure as little intrusion and impact on the landscape or local biodiversity as possible."