A PARCEL courier business has been given the green light to continue operating from a farm in Wix.

Nigel Hargreaves submitted plans to continue using the land and barns at Green Farm in Oakley Road for Tendring Express Services.

He wants the business to run alongside the agricultural use of the site and Tendring Council has granted permission.

It is a well-established company and employs 32 staff in Tendring, operating from a Dutch barn, several other barns and three portacabins.

The firm started in 2004 with just two vans and has since grown to 17 vans and drivers, with the land and buildings leased from the farmer, who still uses some of the buildings for storage.

The proposal includes parking arrangements and two buildings for warehousing.

A Tendring Council spokesman said: “We aim to support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable new development.”

He added: “The scale and type of activity needs to be of a type and scale that fits in with the character of the surrounding area, which this does.”

The plans were supported by the council’s regeneration team and also has the backing of Wix Parish Council as it brings employment opportunities to the village.

The council also received two letters of support by residents and one of objection.

Among the conditions put on the approval is that there should be no unloading or loading of delivery vehicles outside the hours of 6am to 7pm on Mondays to Fridays and 6am to 12noon on Saturdays.