A popular ice cream shop at a farm could also open a café for customers if plans are given the green light.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council granted permission for a former agricultural building at Springfields Farm, Hulme, to be converted into retail use in December after owners of Bobby's Ice Cream Parlour applied for part-retrospective consent.

More than 340 letters were submitted to the council supporting the previous application, with 49 against. 

Natalie Taylor, one of the people behind the venture, apologised to neighbours at the December planning committee meeting and said actions had been taken in response to their comments.

The hot food sale is expected to encompass items such as paninis, bacon rolls, breakfasts and pies (Nub News).

She added: "I can assure you that we have learnt from our mistakes and we shall not make these mistakes again. We are a young growing, hard working family and have recently moved into Springfields Farm and have both lived in the area all of our lives."

Now another planning application has come forward requesting mixed use to enable a café as well as retail space at the Hulme Lane site.

A planning statement submitted as part of the latest application said: "This revised submission will facilitate the use of the premises as both a retail outlet for the sale of hot and cold food, as well as a café where customers will be able to purchase food and drink from the shop to then consume on the premises.

"The hot food for sale is expected to encompass items such as paninis, bacon rolls, breakfasts, sausage rolls, pies, toasted sandwiches, baked potatoes etc. The provisions of Condition 2 of (the previous planning application) currently preclude the use of the premises for anything other than the sale of cold food and hot pies, plus hot and cold drinks.

Bobby's Ice Cream Parlour reopened last week following a refurbishment (Nub News).

"No external alterations to the building are proposed, nor will there be any changes to the existing vehicular access and parking arrangements as approved, which provide space for the parking of 25 vehicles. The proposed change of use of the existing retail premises to a mixed use of retail / café will not give rise to any greater impact to the openness of the Green Belt than that which was permitted.

"The business employs six members of staff (four full-time equivalents) and constitutes a start-up business. The proposal represents the continued diversification of the agricultural holding in a manner that will support the sustainable growth of the rural economy, in accordance with the objectives of the Local Authority's Growth Strategy."

------------

READ MORE: Extra cameras to be installed in a Stoke-on-Trent town centre

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.