A vineyard owner has described officials as "short-sighted" after being refused planning permission for a new house from which she can tend her vines.

Laura Robinson applied to build the three-bed property for her family to live on beside the Burn Valley Vineyard at North Creake, near Burnham Market.

But West Norfolk council has turned down the proposal, saying it would be "outside of a defined settlement boundary, in an unsustainable location" and Miss Robinson had "failed to clearly demonstrate that there is an essential need" for a worker to live permanently at the site.

Eastern Daily Press: The grape harvest under way at Burn Valley VineyardThe grape harvest under way at Burn Valley Vineyard (Image: Chris Bishop)

Miss Robinson, who currently lives five miles from the site, said she was "annoyed and upset" and would be appealing the decision.

"The council just doesn't seem to want to help local businesses and families but will happily put through plans for second homes that are lived in for two weeks of the year," she said.

"This would help our business grow, thus providing more jobs for locals. They are so short-sighted."

Eastern Daily Press: Laura Robinson says she needs to live beside her vineyard to tend to her 12 acres of vinesLaura Robinson says she needs to live beside her vineyard to tend to her 12 acres of vines (Image: Chris Bishop)

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A planning statement said the 12-acre vineyard and winery had required "a significant financial investment at the outset", with slow returns because of the time it takes for vines to become established.

It added: "It is crucial therefore for the applicants, having made such a financial commitment, to ensure that they can operate the business as efficiently as possible on a day-to-day basis in order to minimise the risk of external factors affecting production.

Eastern Daily Press: Laura Robinson in her winery near Burnham MarketLaura Robinson in her winery near Burnham Market (Image: Chris Bishop)

"It is for this purpose that the applicants have realised for some time that as the business has grown, it has become increasingly necessary for them to reside permanently on site so that they can give the vineyard and winery production the 24/7 care and attention it requires." 

It said viticulture is "labour intensive", and Miss Robinson and her family "clearly satisfy the definition of rural workers".