Corkers Crisp factory to be rebuilt at Cambridgeshire farm following devastating fire

The Corkers Crisp Factory will be rebuilt following the devastating fire that burnt down most of the complex in 2020.

It will be built at the same site off Westmoor Common, between Little Downham and Pymoor.

Founder and owner Ross Taylor told East Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee was told last Wednesday (2 April) that it had been a “tragic day” when they lost their family business to the fire five years ago.

“We supported a lot of jobs over the years and brought a lot of young people into jobs and trained them and it was a very good starting point for youngsters to learn new skills,” he said.

“It has been a big journey for us as a family to lose our family farm. We were so proud of this business, it was such a big loss to the area.”

The committee was told the new factory would be better designed and more sustainable and would bring 120 jobs back to the area.

The gourmet hand-cooked crisp business was founded by Mr Taylor in 2010 at Willow Farm, where the family have been growing potatoes for six generations. The business once turned over £10million.

More than 60 firefighters were involved tackling the fire at the site on 30 May, 2020. A combination of high winds and combustible material like oils and packaging used in the crisp manufacturing process meant the blaze spread rapidly, creating a huge plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.

Residents did raise some objections to the plans to rebuild the factory, however.

Jack Eagle said it was “unclear” why an increase in the number of car parking spaces at the factory was proposed.

Prof Anthony Martin objected on the grounds of “public health and public amenity”.

He was concerned about emissions from the new factory and claimed the council did not know the “human health impact” of pollution from the facility.

Cllr Christine Ambrose Smith (Con, Littleport) said she was “very supportive” of Mr Taylor’s family rebuilding their business.

But she agreed there were “some quite serious questions” raised about emissions and asked Mr Taylor if he had addressed them.

Mr Taylor, who also founded Buffaload Logistics, in Ellington, said the only emission from the previous factory had been condensation and this would be reduced as they planned to reuse it as part of a steam turbine.

Anything in the condensation would be captured during this process, he said, meaning the factory “basically won’t emit any fumes at all”.

Cllr Alan Sharp (Con, Woodditton) thought it was “great” that 120 jobs would be brought back to the area and said Mr Taylor seemed to be “taking advantage of that very sad situation five years ago to actually change the development, so it can be better”.

He sought clarification on the parking spaces and Mr Taylor replied that the old factory had “not been designed very well”.

Parked cars were previously lined up along the track next to the site, which he described as “not an ideal situation”.

The redesign meant all vehicles could park within the grounds. This did not mean room for extra cars, “just a better designed layout”, he said.

Cllr Lucius Vellacott (Con, Soham South) felt it would be a “huge employment benefit” and Cllr Bill Hunt (Con, Stretham) recognised it “must have been a very difficult time” for Mr Taylor and his family since the fire.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plans.