A farm shop in Cheshire that hails itself an "oasis of quality and taste in a world of uniformity and blandness" has won planning permission to expand and improve its site to include a huge new cafe area.
The Cheshire Smokehouse is a hotspot for fine foods in the Wilmslow area, with its retail shop based in a former farm barn. It used to have a popular cafe too in the upper floor of the barn - but it was forced to close during the Covid lockdowns and has never reopened.
Now, bosses have confirmed that they have secured planning permission for a major redevelopment of the site, off a quiet lane in the village of Morley Green near Wilmslow. It will include an entirely new glass-fronted building to include a glossy new cafe space.
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It will also include a replacement food production building, where the staff smoke a range of meats, fishes and produce for which they have won a series of awards.
Announcing the news on instagram, the Cheshire Smokehouse said: "For all of you who have asked, we've just found out that our planning application for a replacement production building and new cafe has been accepted.
"We'll keep you up to date when we have more information".
Cheshire Smokehouse has been run by Darren Ward and his family in Morley Green for almost 30 years. It currently boasts a range of farm-fresh meats, cheese, dairy items and local fruit and veg as well as an ever popular on-site bakery with a range of breads and pastries.
When they initially announced their redevelopment plans they said: "Unfortunately our current site faces some challenges, and to address these, we're planning some changes to our site layout and buildings.
"As part of these new proposals, we plan to refresh the shop, bring back a fully accessible cafe, and create a new food production building. Sustainability is also at the heart of our new plans, from solar panels and cycle facilites to creating a new, fully landscaped car park area with tree planting and green space."
The current food production building is based in the former farm abbatoir on the site, but the new improved building will allow for more efficient modern food production, bosses say.
Repositioning it on the site will also "open up new views of neighbouring fields and the Cheshire landscape to be enjoyed both on arrival and from within the site."
The existing shop will remain, but with a new improved enrance porch and shop window. It will then face the new cafe entrance in the building across the road, which will be accessed by a new "green pathway" with priority pedestrian access.
Cheshire East Council approved the plans on June 30. There is no word yet as to when the works will start, or when the new site is scheduled to complete.
Earlier this year, the shop was nominated among the best farm shops in the north west at the Farm Shop and Deli Retailers Awards.
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