A new home for a historic brewery

‘Independent and full of character’ is how Daniel Thwaites PLC describes the principles of its founder and namesake. Established over 200 years ago and with almost 250 pubs, inns, hotels and spas in its portfolio, this brewery epitomises innovation and entrepreneurship in rural Britain.

Rural Solutions has worked on over 20 sites with Thwaites - including Langdale Chase, the North Lakes Hotel, and the Crown Inn at Pooley Bridge - from pre-purchase advice to planning and financial appraisals, design work and planning applications.

Objective

To facilitate the growth of the company through the redevelopment of a residential site to house a state-of-the-art new brewery and headquarters.

Approach

Rural Solutions was commissioned to lead the pre-application process and planning application for a new head office and brewery for Daniel Thwaites PLC.

With development constraints on a sensitive site including a listed building to be retained and incorporated and the proximity of ancient woodland, Rural Solutions worked with the client and their architect to develop a scheme that addressed these issues and presented a scheme appropriate to its surroundings.

The perceived issues of noise and odour impacts from the new brewery were an important consideration for local residents and we were able to resolve all of these issues through a robust and evidenced planning strategy, community consultation and liaison with planning officers.

All issues were resolved, and unanimous approval was received from Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Planning Committee and development was completed in 2018 with premises now fully operational.

Images (c) Campbell Driver Partnership Architects