Yoghurt factory jobs boost for North Shropshire town
Plans to expand production at a north Shropshire dairy processor are set to create a number of new jobs, according to an application lodged with Shropshire Council.
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A total of eight jobs could be created by the expansion of Muller's Market Drayton plant on Shrewsbury Road, which will see an existing building at their factory redeveloped to provide extra storage and distribution facilities - if the redevelopment plans are approved.
The building has been used for handling and packaging of frozen fruit, but is set to be expanded with 'confidential' new machinery and processes for food production, according to a statement submitted with the proposal by applicants Muller UK & Ireland Group.
"The proposal will include the demolition of existing building elements, including the internal floor build up and the majority of all internal furniture and fittings. The scheme is intended to utilise the existing footprint of the facility in order to facilitate the change of internal use," it said.
"The existing facility... has been used for the production of fruit puree by Muller for over 10 years and remains operational. The existing facility is to be retained as part of the redevelopment, with exterior works being limited to the immediate adjacency of the building.
"The facility will utilise new machinery across a larger floor space in order to produce consumable goods. The existing building was used for storage and distributing of produced goods which will remain an aspect of the scheme, but on a larger scale."
The scheme will see the footprint of the existing fruit puree plant expanded to around 2,000 square metres, as well as external works set to include the installation of 11 new storage silos on the outside of the building which faces out to Shrewsbury Road.
The document adds that the proposed internal change of use is "confidential" - but would include larger machinery than is currently in use at the plant.
Changes to car parking and access roads proposed as part of the development will also see 16 car parking spaces lost at the site.
Shropshire Council's planning department will decide on the scheme following the end of the consultation period at the end of February.
