MAELOR FOODS has submitted plans to double production at its processing facility close to Wrexham, North Wales.
Maelor Foods currently employs 250 staff, with 86% coming from the North Wales area.
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If approved, the increase in production will provide 125 new jobs and an annual boost of £20m across the local economy, significantly contributing to the Welsh Government’s vision for growth in the Food and Drink industry, the firm said.
The application aims to vary a condition imposed when planning was first granted to develop the site.
The site was originally owned by Cadbury’s, followed by First Milk and Dairy Crest, and more recently, haulier Lloyd Maunder operated from it.
Planning
Maelor Foods was initially allowed to kill 400,000 birds a week following a £20mm redevelopment of the site into a poultry processing plant.
Following a lengthy planning process, that limit was lifted to one million birds a week in 2019.
Maelor Foods said it offers a complete “farm to fork” journey as part of the wider Salisbury Poultry Group.
Junction improvements
The plans submitted by Maelor Foods also include a new proposal, funded by the company, to improve the A525/Pickhill Lane junction, to realign its positioning.
This will improve the safety of the junction for all road users.
Ricky Mehta, director at Maelor Foods said: “Since beginning operations at Pickhill Lane in 2014, we have gone from processing 400,000 to one million birds per week since April 2022.
Similar facilities
“Across the UK, similar facilities are not limited on the number of birds they process. As a result, we have now submitted a variation of conditions application to Wrexham Council, asking to raise the restriction to 2 million birds a week.
“Our existing facility could process a further one million birds without the need for any physical expansion.
“At a time when the price of food and goods is at the front of everyone’s mind, we hope that Wrexham Council recognises the economic and social benefit our proposals can bring and maximise the potential of existing facilities like ours at Pickhill Lane to help meet demand for well-priced, home reared poultry.”
The application was submitted to Wrexham Council on 12 September 2022. Wrexham will consult with a range of stakeholders and statutory bodies before reaching a decision.
