Owners of Keelham Farm Shop have welcomed the support of Craven planners to their proposed £3 million outlet in Skipton.

Brother and sister James and Victoria Robertshaw want to build their second shop and visitors’ centre on the site of the former Nicholas Smith’s garage close to the Little Chef roundabout, at the Gargrave Road entrance to the town.

The shop, which will make use of renewable energy, including the siting of a micro 15 metre high wind turbine, has been recommended for approval at Monday’s meeting of Craven District Council’s planning committee.

“It is fantastic that our plans are to be recommended for approval by council officers at this critical stage,” said co-owner Victoria Robertshaw.

“One of our family farms is located in Cowling and we have a real affinity with the area. We’ve sourced meat from Skipton Auction Mart for many years now and we already use Stanforths Butcher’s meat processing unit, which is based at the auction mart, for some of the meat preparation for our original shop in Thornton.”

If the plans are approved, it will be the second shop to bear the Keelham name.

Councillors will hear at next week’s meeting that the scheme has raised no objections in principle from Skipton Town Council, although its members did raise highways concerns.

Stirton Parish Meeting said it was “overwhelmingly in favour”, but also expressed highways concerns and hoped that plans could be put in place to cope with any traffic build-up.

In addition, the council has received 33 responses with 30 in support of the scheme, and three against.

The shop, café and attached visitors’ barn, with live animals, will create 60 jobs and include parking for 127 cars. It is also proposed to site a bus stop at the front of the shop.

The shop itself will sell fruit and vegetables, and will include butchery and bakery, while the visitors’ barn will include a children’s education centre and seasonal events.