Plans to secure Gloucester’s future as the ‘Home of Wall’s ice cream’ approved
Owners Unilever UK Ltd, have been granted permission for new buildings and a replacement mix plant facility in Barnwood.
The future of Gloucester as the “Home of Wall’s ice cream” has been secured as city chiefs approved plans tonight (April 1) for a “multi-million pound” upgrade of their facilities.
Unilever UK Ltd, who owns the Wall’s ice cream brand, has been granted permission for new buildings and a replacement mix plant facility at their site off Corinium Avenue in Barnwood.
The proposals which include a new pasteuriser and homogeniser building as well as a new clean-in-place building were approved unanimously by Gloucester City Council on April 1.
The scheme also includes an ingredient tank farm building as well as relocating the powder silo area and a link bridge.
The plans will not lead to extra jobs at the site but it will secure its long term future, the planning committee was told.
The proposed floor area of the buildings will be 2949.36m2. And the new buildings will be made of metal.
Gary Dickens, who spoke on behalf of Unilever, said the site has been used for the production of ice cream for 60 years.
“It is a well-known company across the city, currently employing over 500 people directly, as well as an additional number of contractors,” he said.
“Significant investment was put into the premises in the 1980s to enable all of Unilever’s UK ice cream manufacturing to take place from the Gloucester site.
“40 years on, a number of the buildings, equipment and infrastructure are now nearing their end of life and in need of replacing.
“The proposed development relates to the installation of a replacement mix plant facility.
“The proposal before you tonight represents a multi-million pound investment by Unilever into the site, which would secure its operations in Gloucester for the foreseeable future.
“The scale of the development demonstrates the applicant’s commitment to this factory, remaining as one of the largest ice cream production factories in Europe, and subsequently one of the city’s most prominent employers.”
Councillor Pam Tracey (C, Westgate) proposed approving the scheme and said “it is good for the city”.
She went on to recite the famous Wall’s advert during the meeting at North Warehouse.
“Just one Cornetto, give it to me, Wall’s Ice Cream,” she said. “It’s good for the people of the city for employment.
“Hopefully if we eat more ice cream they will have more people employed. Wall’s is sticking with our city and congratulations for doing that.”
And Councillor Andrew Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale) said when he was cabinet member Wall’s supported the council’s events.
“They were giving free ice cream out to kids,” he said.
“So they are a brilliant lot. It is a major employer within the city and as it is basically old for new, it will hopefully be better environmentally.”
And Cllr Alastair Chambers (C, Matson Robinswood and White City), who seconded the motion to grant planning permission, said it was a good scheme.
But he said he was a bit worried about Cllr Lewis’ comments “about the free ice cream”.
“Apart from that, I don’t think there’s any reason not to accept this. It is great,” he said.
Councillor Howard Hyman (LD, Westgate) said the committee should support the plans.
And Chairman Angela Conder (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said Cllr Lewis’ comments reminded her
“25 years ago, I had to manage the storage and distribution of a large number of orange ice lollies that Wall’s had given to the library service,” she said.
“I had to store them and distribute them around the Forest of Dean. Thank you Cllr Lewis for reminding me and thank you, Wall’s.”
The committee voted unanimously to approve the scheme.