A farm near Ellesmere has been given the green light to expand by creating a cafe, farm shop, visitor centre and caravan park on site.

Corner Farm in Welshampton has been given planning permission from Shropshire Council to transform agricultural farm buildings into a leisure complex.

The plans will create six full-time and four part-time jobs and will promote local rural business and tourism, according to planning bosses.

A report by Shropshire Council case officer, Mark Perry, said: “The proposed use of the site, a farm shop and tourist destination, will provide a local outlet for the retail of food products produced locally. It will also provide economic benefits to the area as the enterprise will generate jobs and also encourage tourists to the area.

“It is the intention that the farm shop will sell products that are produced locally and not high levels of goods imported from outside of the area. The applicant has already contacted a wide range of local producers who have expressed their interest in using the proposed farm shop as an outlet for their food and drink produce.”

Shropshire Council received 35 letters from members of the public and 16 were in support of the proposals.

Some of the concerns raised included an increase in traffic, the visual impact of caravans, noise and light pollution, and the development being unsustainable.”

The holiday park will accommodate 19 touring caravans with washroom facilities.

Other plans include a cookery school in the cafe and demonstrations on how the food is produced on the farm in the visitor centre.