A brewery based in Sussex has applied for retrospective approval to address planning breaches at its site.
Gun Brewery submitted its application to Wealden District Council last week, seeking consent for various features at Hawthbush Farm in Gun Hill.
Representatives for the brewery confirmed the submission aims to address planning irregularities flagged by the council’s enforcement team at the location.
The council’s enforcement officers had requested the company submit the application.
The retrospective approval sought covers a 20kw solar installation, an outdoor seating zone featuring a stretch tent, and more intensive use of its tap room compared to what the original planning permission allowed.
The application also requests consent to upgrade the parking facilities with a crushed stone surface providing approximately 60 spaces. According to the brewery’s representative, this aspect is partially retrospective.
In the submission, the brewery’s agent stated the council should approve the renewable energy scheme and the increased tap room usage to ensure the site continues supporting the rural and tourism economy of the area, having operated for several years without negatively impacting the surroundings while providing a successful additional facility in the district.
Planning consent for the current brewery structure was obtained in 2020, replacing an earlier installation on a different part of the farm.
Initially, the tap room was intended to serve as a subordinate feature to the primary brewing operation.
However, enforcement officers determined the current tap room operations exceed what constitutes incidental use.
Consequently, the brewery is requesting approval for the expanded use of the tap room to match its present operations. The application indicates this will involve food sales from mobile catering units and beverages not brewed at the location.
The brewery is also proposing a condition limiting public opening hours to between 4pm and 10pm Wednesday through Friday, between noon and 10pm on Saturdays, and between noon and 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays. Most Mondays and Tuesdays would remain closed except during bank holidays.
The consultation period closes on May 8, with the council expecting to reach a decision by June 9.
For more details, refer to application reference WD/2026/0513/FR on the Wealden District Council website.