Bernard Matthews plans site expansion

PLANS submitted by Bernard Matthews to expand its Holton processing facility are to be heard by a local planning meeting.

The company submitted an application last year that would see the factory expanded to just shy of 20,000sq ft.

It would allow the firm to expand beyond seasonal killing and employ 650 people year-round, documents submitted to the council suggested.

Holton council has objected to the plans, which have been recommended by planners for approval, subject to conditions. A hearing will consider the application on 16 April.

“A year round full-time workforce of a scale matching the peak Christmas period workforce is attractive in employment terms. This was stated as to be achieved by processing other poultry as well as turkey, outside this traditional peak,” the document said.