Jack’s Gelato to manufacture ice cream at Manor Farm in Girton

Cambridge-based Jack’s Gelato has been given permission to use Manor Farm in Girton as the base to make its ice cream.

The Cambridgeshire County Council-owned farm had previously been let to the former deputy leader of the council, Roger Hickford, who was found to have bullied officers at the authority in order to get preferential treatment in relation to his tenancy.

The site previously had permission to be used as a canine training centre, which was gained by Mr Hickford in 2019, although never put into use.

Planning documents submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council, said Jack’s Gelato was a small artisan ice cream company with a “strong environmental focus”, which provided “high quality jobs” with salaries around 20 per cent higher than the industry average.

The plans said: “The proposal establishes an artisan ice cream manufacturer on a site that has previously had permission for a significantly more intensive canine training centre use, whilst also boosting biodiversity on site and creating a blueprint for a small, truly sustainable and community orientated business. It also creates much-needed rural jobs in a sustainable location that is easily accessible via public transport.”

A solar panel array which was included in the original plans was removed by the company after planning officers said the application would be refused if they were included.

The planning approval requires the company to begin the changes within three years of the permission being issued.