Pippa Middleton's husband James Matthews has faced a setback in his plans to open a countryside nursery at Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire.
Local highways officials have recommended refusing the application due to concerns about increased traffic.
The rural nursery proposal has been called in by a local councillor, meaning it will now be debated by the planning committee.
Matthews, a 49-year-old hedge fund manager, wants to establish a facility for pre-schoolers at the farm he purchased with business partner James Murray for £1.3m in 2021.
Pippa Middleton and her husband have suffer major setback.
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Road chiefs have expressed "significant concerns" that the nursery would generate too many car journeys in what they describe as an "unsustainable location."
Bucklebury Farm is located on the edge of Bucklebury village, around 4km north east of Thatcham in Berkshire.
The site has been open to the public since 1992 and lies not far from where Pippa, her sister the Princess of Wales and brother James were brought up.
Michael and Carole Middleton, the siblings' parents, still own a house nearby which they purchased in 2012.
The farm has undergone several improvements since Matthews and Murray acquired it four years ago.
It currently features a deer park, soft play area, animal petting, office space and café.
The site has been open to the public since 1992 and lies not far from where Pippa, her sister the Princess of Wales and brother James were brought up.
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The site also offers rustic glamping tents where families can stay with just the heat from a logburner and no electricity or wifi.
Bucklebury Farm's petting zoo was reportedly a favourite of young Prince George when visiting his grandparents.
Matthews' plans for the nursery would not require new construction as the buildings already exist on the farm.
The proposal seeks a change of use for a log cabin that was originally approved for staff accommodation in 2015, before the Matthews family owned the park.
In 2023, permission was granted to use the cabin as office space with meeting rooms, a workshop and studio.
The proposed nursery aims to give local parents more choice, with no similar facilities within five miles.
Farm representatives note that many local nurseries don't provide cover during school holidays, limiting parents' ability to work outside term time.
West Berkshire Council's highways department has expressed serious concerns about the nursery proposal.
Matthews, a 49-year-old hedge fund manager, wants to establish a facility for pre-schoolers at the farm he purchased with business partner James Murray for £1.3m in 2021.
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Officials stated: "This would result in staff and children/attendees' vehicle movements, travelling to and from the site potentially daily, in what is an unsustainable location."
They noted there are "no alternative modes of travel to the site other than private car."
The department had previously accepted the 2023 application for office use "on the basis that the use was proposed to be once or twice a week."
However, they view the nursery as a "significant concern" that "would result in an unacceptable increase in vehicle movements."
The highways department has formally recommended refusal of the application.
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Caroline Downie, representing Bucklebury Farm, has attempted to address these concerns in submissions to West Berkshire planners.
She explained the nursery would accommodate a maximum of 24 children and would take three years to reach capacity.
Staffing would include one manager, two qualified teachers and a couple of apprentices.
Downie noted that up to 20 parents had already expressed interest in the facility.
"The local nurseries are at capacity or near capacity," she stated.
She estimated the nursery would generate 48 extra vehicle movements per day, totalling 12,480 per year.
This would still keep total vehicle movements below the 70,000 annual limit allowed by the local council, considering the farm's existing 45,000 visitors.
Bucklebury Parish Council has raised no objection to the application.
However, they did note: "There was discussion about the vehicular access to the proposed facility, which is shared with pedestrians as they enter the farm from the carpark. The plans are not clear on where staff or parents will be expected to park."
The council did acknowledge that concerns about traffic could be offset by benefits to the rural economy, provision of jobs and the lack of similar nurseries in the area.
Councillor Christopher Read, the ward member for Bucklebury, has called in the decision for debate by the planning committee.
A decision on the application is expected by mid-April.
