Whitchurch's Belton Cheese wins permission to expand

Expansion plans have been given the go-ahead for an award-winning Shropshire cheese maker in a scheme which is expected to create jobs.

Belton Cheese in Whitchurch says there is an urgent need to expand to meet increasing production demands.

The firm has been granted permission by Shropshire Council to extend its warehouse to form a new distribution area after staff told planners they had run out of production space. Ten full-time jobs are to be created as part of the scheme.

The report also claimed the company had very few neighbours, so noise impact would be minimal and little extra traffic would be generated.

A planning report on behalf of Shropshire Council said: "The proposed development is appropriate in its design and scale for both its intended use and within its context.

"Therefore, it will not have a detrimental impact upon the character and appearance of the area.

"Furthermore, the development will not have a detrimental impact upon the residential amenities of the area."

This year the company won five gold, five silver and three bronze medals, as well as a number of cups, at the Frome Cheese Show.