Cass Associates have achieved full planning consent for a traditional Italian artisan cheese manufacturer in Netherley, Liverpool.

The new cheesery is located in a row of businesses at Middlemass Hey that includes retail uses and a post office. The unit had been empty for a number of years, having previously been a fresh food market.

Davide Calogero, who recently moved to Liverpool with his brother and his wife from Italy to open the business, comes from a family of artisan cheesemakers. Davide said:

“In Sicily in 1948 Sicily our great-grandfather Paolo Calogero dedicated his life to the processing of cheese in a traditional way. He taught his sons who learned the art of processing and processing milk into cheese. He began by providing his cheeses to the city in which the dairy opened and gradually they supplied other cities around it and nearby small islands, eventually producing cheese from 15,000 litres of milk per day.

Today my grandfather is enjoying retirement, and upon coming to England, my brother and I realised that it imports most of the cheeses directly from Italy so we are more than pleased to share our experience in Liverpool.”

The artisan cheesery was granted planning permission for a change of use from A1 (Shops) to B1 (Business) from Liverpool City Council following negotiations with planning consultants at Cass Associates.

Planner Darren Muir said “This is a fantastic use of a redundant unit and we were pleased to secure support from Liverpool City Council on the basis that this represents a form of economic development appropriate within a primarily residential area. We wish Davide and his family every success in their new business.”

Using family recipes and knowledge Calogero Cheese is hoping to supply local businesses and restaurants with a true taste of Italian produce made locally, including traditional Italian cheeses and vegan versions.