MORE than a dozen jobs would be created by proposals to expand an engineering firm.

Proposals have been submitted to Ribble Valley Council seeking permission to build a factory extension at Clitheroe Light Engineering. The proposed extension will create approximately 15 new full-time permanent jobs for the town.

With the extension there is scope for creating further jobs 24 to 36 months after the build, if the business grows.

The intended use is for light manufacturing only, as with the rest of the site.

Peter Hitchen, acting as agent for the applicants, said: “Clitheroe Light Engineering are a well-established engineering business occupying a two-acre site on the periphery of Clitheroe town centre within the Upbrooks industrial zone.

“The premises is a portal framed metal clad building with associated yard and car parking area. The building was extended in 2010 and a new unit within the site was approved in 2017.

“The proposal demonstrates a new extension to the same height and width as the extension approved in 2017 covering an area of 690 sqm to the south eastern side of the premises where the existing yard and car parking area is located.

“A new car parking area is shown on the land to the north west of the building where the new building was approved in 2017. No heavy engineering is undertaken on site at all. The largest delivery wagon we receive goods on is 7.5t and there will be no extra traffic for the proposed build."

A Highways Report claims the extension would not have an adverse effect on roads around the business.

It states: “The report shows that the proposed building extension will generate a low number of additional vehicle movements that will be associated with additional employees only.

“The proposed building extension will still allow the largest types of vehicle that visit the site to turn around within the site.

“Overall, the proposed building extension and car park will not have a material impact on the operation, or safety, of the local highway network and the proposed development scheme will be accessible by sustainable transport.

“It is recommended there should be no highway or transport objections raised towards the planning application.”