A barn on a farm site near Corscombe is to be used for a cookery school.

Dorset Council has agreed the change of use for one of the barns at Weston Manor Farm for Miles and Emily Lampson.

Emily, using her maiden name of Emily Watkins, is a winner of the 2014 Great British Menu competition.

Born in Dorset she previously co-ran the The Kingham Plough restaurant near Chipping Norton having previously worked in Florence and at Michellin-starred The Fat Duck with Heston Blumenthal.

The couple and their children have lived at Weston since 2017 when they moved from Gloucestershire.

The application says there would be little external amendments apart from some minor alterations to doors and windows. Only around half of the modern, portal framed barn, will be converted with the design showing an open plan classroom, kitchen and cloakroom capable of taking up to 12 people at a time.

Other changes taking place in the site include the building of a new farmhouse and stables, previously agreed by the council.

A council report says that local planning policy supports modest farm diversification schemes and the cookery school will put a farm building to good use with no impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Corscombe is becoming quite a foodie destination after Mark Hix opened The Fox Inn at Corscombe in November last year. Find out more here.