Control of Arts Centre given to Town Council
Friday, 13th December 2002.
FIRM has unveiled plans to build one of Europe's biggest meat processing plants -- but says it needs to build houses on the old site to pay for it.
Grampian Country Pork employs more than 1,000 staff at its site in Little Wratting, near Haverhill .
Its plan to build a new £50m factory on land at the opposite side of the road has won the support of St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
However, its proposal to develop up to 200 homes on the existing factory site to help fund the new one would be a departure from the existing Draft Local Plan policy -- and would need regional government approval.
Coun Mike Ames, Planning Portfolio Holder for St Edmundsbury, said the council was very keen to support the new factory and the aspirations of Grampian Foods but said that the council would have to work within planning law.
Jerry Massey, Director of Planning for St Edmundsbury, said they had been in confidential negotiations with Grampian for some time regarding plans for a 350,000 sq ft new factory to replace existing buildings which are coming to the end of their life.
Mr Massey said the plan for a new factory was totally supported, the housing scheme was against regional planning guidance. He said the most realistic plan would be to retain the site as an employment area.
Alasdair Cox, director of communications for Grampian, stressed that the the company had not yet made a planning application.
Patrick Thornhill, managing director of Grampian Suffolk said if the new facility went ahead it would be one of the most modern pork processing plants in Europe with the jobs of staff safeguarded over the long term.
Grampian Country Pork employs more than 1,000 staff at its site in Little Wratting, near Haverhill .
Its plan to build a new £50m factory on land at the opposite side of the road has won the support of St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
However, its proposal to develop up to 200 homes on the existing factory site to help fund the new one would be a departure from the existing Draft Local Plan policy -- and would need regional government approval.
Coun Mike Ames, Planning Portfolio Holder for St Edmundsbury, said the council was very keen to support the new factory and the aspirations of Grampian Foods but said that the council would have to work within planning law.
Jerry Massey, Director of Planning for St Edmundsbury, said they had been in confidential negotiations with Grampian for some time regarding plans for a 350,000 sq ft new factory to replace existing buildings which are coming to the end of their life.
Mr Massey said the plan for a new factory was totally supported, the housing scheme was against regional planning guidance. He said the most realistic plan would be to retain the site as an employment area.
Alasdair Cox, director of communications for Grampian, stressed that the the company had not yet made a planning application.
Patrick Thornhill, managing director of Grampian Suffolk said if the new facility went ahead it would be one of the most modern pork processing plants in Europe with the jobs of staff safeguarded over the long term.
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