Shropshire's Belton Cheese in expansion plans

An award-winning Shropshire cheese maker has unveiled proposals to expand in a scheme which will create more jobs. The firm has told planners it has run out of production space.

Belton Cheese in Whitchurch has submitted proposals to Shropshire Council to extend the existing warehouse to form a new distribution area.

Bosses say there is an urgent need to expand to meet increasing production demands. Ten new full-time jobs are set to be created.

A design and access statement says: "Belton Cheese has been a developing company over the past 10 to 15 years and they have now reached the point that it is not possible to fit all the production areas within the existing buildings. Therefore, a factory extension is required.

"It is proposed to build an extension to the warehouse at the south west end. This makes the whole site function in a more organised way. The extension will also enable a modern loading bay to be constructed, meaning that vehicles picking up the cheese do not interfere with the production processes."

The report also says that the company has very few neighbours so impacts will be minimal and no further traffic will be generated.

September proved a very fruitful month for the company which won five gold, five silver and three bronze medals, as well as a number of cups at the Frome Cheese Show.

They included the Farmhouse Medium Cheddar Trophy, the Double Gloucester Trophy and the Cheshire Trophy.