Strawberry farm in Garforth could house up to 325 seasonal workers
Plans for a soft fruit farm to house up to 325 seasonal workers will go before a panel of councillors.
Makins in Micklefield wants to continue using 84 static caravans at its Sturton Grange strawberry farm near Garforth.
The company was first granted time-limited permission in 2009 to house mainly European fruit pickers who arrive in the UK under the Seasonal Worker visa scheme.
If granted, a current planning application would allow use of the caravans for another six years at the Ridge Road farm.
A Leeds City Council report said: “The proposed retention of the seasonal workers’ caravans forms an essential element to the viability and success of the existing soft fruit enterprise.
“It is during the summer months when the labour requirements rise, with workers involved in the picking, management and planting of fruit crops.”
Makins, which supplies UK supermarkets, previously had to demonstrate “very special circumstances” to get planning permission because the caravans were on green belt land.
The report said changes in national planning policy meant the site could now be classed as “grey belt”, deemed less environmentally important.
It said: “Accordingly, it is recommended that the application be approved, subject to specified conditions.”
But planning rules mean the application would still be have to referred to the Secretary of State for housing, who could call it in for final determination.
The council’s North and East plans panel will consider the application at a meeting on Thursday, November 13.