NEW premises for a North Yorkshire brewery, including a beer racking plant and distribution facilities, have won the backing of a parish council.

Masham Parish Council is supporting a planning application by The Black Sheep Brewery to develop industrial buildings at Fearby Road, Masham, near Ripon.

The site would also be used for storage, offices, and staff and visitor parking.

But the scheme has resulted in an objection from the Environment Agency because the site is within the flood plain of Swinney Beck.

The site is allocated for industial use in the local plan.

Planning officer Mike Warden is recommending approval of the application when it is considered by members of a Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council on Tuesday, as long as a flooding assessment is carried out.

The brewery's agent, Norder Design Associates Limited, said the company's units in Well, near Bedale, did not meet the growing demands of the business or help with transport efficiency.