PLANS are being drawn up to breathe new life into a former village cheese-making premises near Wellington.

Dan Rathbone, the new owner of Hill Farm, Stawley, wants to establish a charcuterie for the production of cold meats.

The 21-acre farm was given planning permission 11 years ago for then-owner Will Atkinson to make ‘high quality artisan goat’s cheese’ using only milk from goats reared on site.

Mr Atkinson’s organic ‘cottage industry’ produced small volumes of cheese using traditional methods and processes until the business ceased in 2016, since when the buildings have remained empty.

Now, Mr Rathbone has applied to district council planners to change the use of the site from cheese-making to charcuterie.

Mr Rathbone said: “As part of the initial plans for a farm diversification project, a variation of use will re-introduce a small business to the location and allow the buildings to be brought back into use.

“As with the original application of Hill Farm Dairy, we are proposing to start a small-scale, cottage-style, artisan food business.

“We are not proposing any changes to the existing structures and merely wish to alter the change of use from small-scale cheese production to small-scale charcuterie production.”