AN established ice cream farm is set to get bigger and better thanks to a £125,000 cash injection.

Dunham Massey Ice Cream has been given the go ahead to develop their Station Road site following from a successful grant application to the rural LEADER fund.

The ice cream company will create a bespoke ice cream parlour, generating up to seven new jobs, and revamp the existing barn.

Richard Pennington, who owns the business with Philippa Pennington and Dianne Ogden, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us. We have manufactured our unique locally produced ice cream on site for 20 years, building up a strong customer base; this funding now enables us to sell our products direct to the public in a specially designed ice cream parlour”.

“It will draw new visitors into the Dunham Massey area and be a destination for tourists, visitors and locals alike, we hope to be open to the public in May 2017. This project would not have gone ahead without the funding from LEADER and we are grateful for all the support given to us by the Economic Growth Team to secure the funding.”

LEADER is part of the Rural Development Programme for England which is funded by the European Union (EU). It will be available until the UK officially leaves the EU.

With the aim to create jobs and stimulate economic growth, LEADER provides funding for businesses and organisations looking to begin or expand their operations in the rural area.

Trafford Council’s economic growth team helped with Dunham Massey Ice Cream’s application.

Councillor John Reilly, executive member for economic growth, environment and infrastructure, said: “Funding is available to Trafford businesses that are located in rural areas such as Dunham Massey and Warburton. Trafford Council is dedicated to helping all areas of the borough prosper and the Council’s economic growth team are ready to support interested businesses through the application process.”

A special rural business event will be being held at Dunham Massey Village Hall on February 9, where representatives from LEADER and other funding agencies will be in attendance.

£1,260,176 of grant funding is available in Cheshire West and Warrington, which includes the Dunham Massey area.

Contact Guy Darragh on 0161 9121651 or email Business@trafford.gov.uk for further information.