The boss of the Whitstable Oyster Company has been dealt another blow after his bid to transform disused storage sheds into a seaside microbrewery was refused.

James Green had submitted proposals to the city council to move his firm’s Maidstone brewery to Reculver Lane, Herne Bay.

The Oyster Company argued the scheme would regenerate that section of the coastline. But council planning officers said the development would be “harmful”.

The snub comes days after plans for a four-storey complex in Whitstable submitted by Sea Street Development Ltd - also headed by Mr Green - were shot down by councillors.

The council officers’ report on the microbrewery bid says the Local Plan steers drinking establishments to town centres.

“This industrial brewery unit would be located outside any of the identified employment sites and within the countryside,” it states.

“This development would therefore conflict with the council’s economic strategy, which directs industrial uses to existing business parks and new allocated sites that have been assessed through the Local Plan as being sustainable and delivering the employment needs of the district.

“Although it is understood that the tasting area / bar part of the development would represent a small portion of the overall change of use application, it possesses all the characteristics of a functionally separate drinking establishment.

“It would represent a main town centre use in the countryside.”

The site includes land formerly occupied by the Reculver Shellfish Company including the existing storage shed.

The company anticipated building a tasting area at the Reculver site which would have allowed visitors to sample freshly-brewed beers and take part in tours.

At its Maidstone site, the brewery serves Kentish lagers, Pilsners, pale ales, bitters, stouts and fruit-flavoured beers.

"This project will now be put on hold until we have considered the impact of the refusal..."

The report added: “Officers consider that the proposal would give rise to an unsustainable and harmful form of development.

“The proposed development, by virtue of its location, would result in the formation of an industrial unit and drinking establishment outside of any identified employment site or identified centre boundaries without sufficient justification.

“The proposal is therefore considered unacceptable in principle.”

A spokesperson for the Oyster Company said: “The relocation of the Whitstable Brewery to the Reculver site, in an area away from residents, was part of a larger project to regenerate this area.

“The project included both a glamping site on council land and a visitor centre at the Oyster Hatchery, aiming to promote sustainable aquaculture.

“This would have resulted in both a new visitor attraction and permanent local employment opportunities.

“Unfortunately, this project will now be put on hold until we have considered the impact of the refusal of this application.”

Last week, Mr Green’s proposals for shops and flats in Whitstable were unanimously rejected by councillors.

Sea Street Developments hoped to construct the building on the Hotel Continental’s overspill car park at the corner of Tower Parade and Beach Walk, insisting the project would “enhance an important area”.

But plans were ill-received by residents, who highlighted concerns over pollution and parking, and fears of views being “obliterated”.

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