Foster & Partners-designed proposals for a futuristic winery and visitor attraction in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been blocked by a planning inspector.

The practice’s scheme for Vinyeyard Farms would have delivered a 15,912sq m facility at a farm near the village of Cuxton. Vineyard Farms already has more than 200ha of vines in the area and a 700,000-litre winery at neighbouring Luddesdown that is currently operating at full capacity.

The new winery was part of an expansion that would have added a further 230ha of vines to the business’ operations, which would have made it the largest vineyard in the UK.

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