A father-and-son team behind a controversial distillery have welcomed the decision to approve their controversial plans to convert an agricultural building.

Sebastian Barnick, a former naval officer who has trained as a distiller, and his father Charles are set to produce spirits in the Magnum building at a vineyard in East Brabourne, near Ashford.

The pair faced a wave of opposition to their proposals, which required permission to change the use of the property, which is on land off The Street.

Neighbours who wished to see the scheme thrown out argued there were never genuine intentions to use the building for storage, which was its initial purpose, but instead the plan had been to build it and then apply for the change of use.

People living near to the planned distillery - which has received support from Rocksalt boss Josh De Haan - fear the impact of traffic, odour from the distilling process and noise generated at the site.

However, speaking after an Ashford Borough Council planning committee approved the plans, Sebastian Barnick told KentOnline he has "listened to the objections raised" and will work to minimise the impact of the distillery.

"We are excited to be encouraging heritage fruits and grains back into commercial farming operations and training up the next generation of Kentish distillers," he said.

"Creating employment opportunity and skill transfer will provide lasting, sustainable economic benefit for the local area in a fun and inherently-rural industry.

"We are looking forward to receiving apprenticeship applications in January 2023.

"This is a really exciting and innovative project creating local employment opportunities, bringing skills into the countryside in a sustainable business, providing agricultural diversification and working within a tried and tested circular rural economy that will create products that we can all be proud of."

Jonathan Armstrong, who spoke against the distillery at the planning meeting on August 17, says locals are disappointed by the decision and are "considering their options".

He had told the hearing: "The Magnum building was built under permitted development rules to store agricultural equipment but has never been used for that purpose."

The distillery, which sits within the Kent Downs area of outstanding natural beauty, will use by-products from the wine industry and locally-grown crops to produce its spirits.