SeaGrown Ltd: Coastal farm shop and cafe could be turned into research site

An innovative North Yorkshire business is set to convert a coastal farm shop and café into a research site as part of a plan to hire new staff.

SeaGrown Ltd, an innovative seaweed cultivation business, has applied to expand its operations by moving to a larger onshore site off the coast of Scarborough.

The business wants to convert a farm shop and café at Flatts Farm, less than 1km inland from the east coast, and approximately 250 m south-east of Burniston, into a hub for seaweed and shellfish cultivation, research and development, and product processing.

Last year, the company announced its intention to sell its floating cafe and research ship in Scarborough Harbour.

The business was founded in 2018 by Captain Wave Crookes, a former fisherman who has held senior roles in the Royal Navy and RNLI, and marine scientist Professor Laura Robinson, who met when working on the British Antarctic Survey.

SeaGrown, which is an indigenous company to Scarborough, operates two commercial seaweed and shellfish cultivation sites off the town’s coast. It currently produces equipment required for offshore cultivation and a variety of food and cosmetic products, as well as developing products that can be used in agriculture and low-emission food production.

The business said that its previous premises proved to be “too small to accommodate 16 members of staff, a larger hatchery facility and further growth in product lines, meaning only packaging and a limited amount of production could take place” at the site.

The landowner has agreed for Flatts Farm to be leased by SeaGrown, which said the new location would allow guests, including schools, to visit and learn about the environmental benefits of growing seaweed and shellfish.

“The location also helps further integrate SeaGrown with the local farming community as future product development is intended to support the industry in time,” submitted plans state.

Moving to Flatts Farm would allow the business to expand and employ 25 people both offshore and onshore: “The location of Flatts Farm close to the coast is optimal for a business whose operations take place simultaneously on land and at sea, as the site offers the opportunity to minimise travel distances and associated costs and environmental impact.”

If the planning application is approved, the land and buildings at Flatts Farm would be used to support seaweed and shellfish cultivation, including nursery and hatchery rearing, product processing, maintenance and processing of environmental monitoring data.

The business said: “Overall, the proposal for SeaGrown to relocate to the site at Flatts Farm represents a low-impact operation that will secure economic benefits for the area.

“This includes an opportunity for the council to support an important local business that offers both onshore and offshore employment opportunities and is at the forefront of innovation in tackling climate change, pollution and net gains in biodiversity, whilst simultaneously producing sustainable and environmentally-friendly produce for which there is demand from a wide range of different sectors and markets.”