Wolverhampton ready meal firm lodges plans to expand premises

Blue Mountain Foods, in Shaw Road, Bushbury, which specialises in Caribbean food, has applied for planning permission to erect a 545 square metre building adjacent to its current premises, which will be retained in its present use.

A statement from Paul Lees, of Bilston-based PL+HP Associates LLP, agents acting on behalf of the firm, said: “The vacant land that the company wants to develop on site was previously used for storage.

"This proposal has been designed to give the business a clean appearance and to blend in with its surroundings.

“Other developments in the area are a mix of late 20th Century industrial buildings, built mainly at the far end of their individual sites with service and parking areas at the edge of the public highway.

"Our proposal is to expand the business by using the existing open land to create a new building.

“The size of the new unit will be in keeping with the surrounding buildings at approximately 6.2 metres in height, similar to those of its neighbours.

"Existing landscaping is minimal – two areas of grass, the larger of which is to be built upon. Planting is proposed to the smaller of the existing landscaped areas, together with the immediate front of the new building.”

Established in 1998, the company previously submitted an application for a new building in September 2022, However, these plans did not come to fruition at the time.

If given the go-ahead, the expanded operation will see a total workforce of 22 full-time and eight part-time staff, with parking spaces for employees and visitors increased to 28.

As well as specialising in traditional Caribbean foods such as jerk chicken, fried snapper fish, ackees and saltfish, mutton curry and steamed hake fish, the company also makes European, Halal and Kosher meals.

Council planning bosses will make a decision on the application in the near future.