DISCUSSIONS were ongoing at the 11th hour regarding a major expansion to a nationally known green belt enterprise offering the prospect of up to 100 new jobs on the city’s outskirts, councillors heard.

The application was made by Meadow Foods at Rough Hill, Marlston-cum-Lache.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s strategic planning committee heard the company, a leading supplier to household name UK brands, was seeking approval to extend its milk processing plant to allow for additional on-site manufacturing and for new chilled storage.

Objections were raised by Dodleston and District Parish Council and by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).

The parish council believed there was no evidence the development would create the number of jobs suggested while the CPRE felt there would be unacceptable harm to the green belt.

Planners had 576 representations of which 546 supported the expansion and 30 objected, raising concerns including fumes and pollution, traffic and noise.

The company argued the application would lead to at least 50 new jobs and potentially up to 100.

It pointed out Meadow Foods added £60m to the local farming economy.

The removal of redundant buildings on Rough Hill would improve the area and there would be a reduction of 400 HGV trips a year.

Recommending approval, planners argued the development would provide ‘significant benefits’ to the economy and the new-build, an increase of 60% to the plant, would not be significantly harmful to the area.

The committee heard of the 11th hour discussions and gave its unanimous approval as there were exceptional circumstances.