Bean 14 HQ under threat from planners

Chris Bader, pictured, founded Bean 14 and has run it from a greenhouse off Rue des Reines, St Peter's, for more than five years.

During that time his growing business, which also involves importing, roasting and processing beans, has been in the news numerous times.

It was only in March that the planners issued a compliance notice, informing Mr Bader that he must stop all activities on the site, except growing the beans.

The notice highlighted that the site was currently classed as agricultural.

'Without planning permission coffee beans are being imported, brought and/or otherwise delivered on to the land and then roasted, ground, packaged, stored and distributed, therefore resulting in a material change of use of the land occurring,' it stated.

'Equipment, materials and items used for or in any way relating to the roasting, grounding, packing, any other processing, storage and/or distribution of coffee are also being stored on, and distributed from, the land, which use also amounts to a material change of use.'

The site would need to have a change of use – to storage and industrial – but this would not be allowed as the glasshouse is within the rural area.

The notice demands that all machinery and imported beans be removed from the site by the end of August.

But Mr Bader has launched an appeal against the notice, which will be heard at the end of September.

Mr Bader said he did not want to comment about the issue at this time.