New Birch Vale factory will create jobs

High Peak Borough Council’s Development Control Committee met on Monday and gave their support to plans to demolish and replace part of an old unit on Thornsett Trading Estate in Birch Vale

Although the new building will be the same footprint as the previous building, it will provide floor space that is fit for purpose for the working environment.

Coun Lance Dowson said: “I am very pleased to see this application.

“A company wants to move out of Charlesworth and into Thornsett and that should be celebrated as it will provide jobs for people in New Mills.

“It’s great that the applicant has seen the potential in the site and it will clearly fit in very well with the surrounding area.”

The proposed building will be a portal framed steel sheet-clad structure of three bays and simple utilitarian design. The building will have three pitched roofs with valleys between.

Coun Bob McKeown said: “It is always nice to see people wanting to build on industrial estates and create jobs.”

The number of jobs the new development will create has not been confirmed, however a supporting statement accompanying the plans by applicant Tim Johnson, of Thornsett Trading Estate, said: “The proposals will provide replacement industrial floor space for the site; in turn promoting economic development and employment opportunities and resulting in sustainable development.”

Coun Stewart Young added: “I am all in favour of anything which creates jobs, and it proves you don’t have to travel outside of the High Peak to gain employment.”

The application is still awaiting responses from certain professional bodies.

Councillors voted in favour of the plans but also to give delegated powers to the operations manager of Development Services to approve the submission when all the relevant information has been received.