Food company given permission to expand

The firm applied to expand by 2,000 sq m

A food company near Oswestry has been given permission to expand.

Oriental Food Express on Maesbury Road Industrial Estate, off Glovers Meadow, applied to add a 2,000 sq m extension to its existing factory.

Documents said this was due to business growth and the move would create 15 new jobs.

Mark Perry, planning officer at Shropshire Council, said the extension was acceptable, would support the expansion of the existing business, and contribute to the county's economic growth.

Further changes include filling in a canopy area currently used for loading and unloading HGVs to create more manufacturing space, removing a plant room and squaring off an adjacent unit.

In a design and access statement from LDM Group, Savin Zannou said the design had been "carefully considered", adding: "The scale and height of the extension will match the existing building to promote a coherent and functional industrial environment."

The company said the changes would result in one to two extra HGV trips per week.

Parking provision would be provided for 15 vehicles and an adjacent yard would be used as an overflow car park.

"I fully support this application on the basis that this will provide several additional jobs for local people," said Simon Williams, a business owner on the same industrial estate.

"The area is already industrial/commercial and this application merely extends a commercial building that has been there for over 60 years."