A VILLAGE farm’s rubbish dump could be transformed into one of only a handful of glasshouse innovation centres in the country testing out new crops.

George Thompson Limited, which has been farming in Great Oakley for 70 years, has put forward plans to build the special centre at Holt Farm, off School Road.

It is hoped the new building, which would also include a meeting space, will create two new jobs and if crop trials are successful, it could mean more in future.

Peter Thompson, managing director, said: “We employ about

60 people and farm land in

Great Oakley, Wrabness and Bradfield.

“The company has long held a reputation for innovation and was named as one of Essex’s 50 most innovative companies in 2017.

“To name a few innovations, we produce in excess of 90per cent of the crispy seaweed and spring onions consumed in UK Chinese restaurants and are home to apricot and fig orchards, the latter the only one of its kind in the UK.”

Trials at the farm include growing figs commercially, identifying heritage tomatoes and Asian crops for UK production.

But the farm is also working on merging aquaculture - the farming of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants and algae - with hydroponics which is growing plants without soil.

Peter said: “The new glasshouse will allow us to both continue the aquaponics and other related trials in a modern facility and give the opportunity to experiment with products and techniques.

“It’s looking at how we grow and what we grow and when you grow it. I don’t think there is another innovation centre in this area or many in the country.

“If we find something that works and could be grown a lot in this area, it could provide employment opportunities for this area.”

Tendring Council has final say.