Banham Poultry submits new factory proposal
Plans submitted to the local council would see the poultry processor’s operations relocated to Bunns Bank, which was the previous home of the company’s factory before it was destroyed by fire in 1998.
Approval for construction on the site had been previously granted in 2013, but work above ground had yet to be started. The new proposals would build on the previous conditions agreed by the council, including an extra 20,200m2 floor space – 5,556m2 larger than initially planned.
Temporary site
The new factory would replace the current Station Road site, which was originally intended to serve as a temporary base of operations. Despite having extant permission to improve the factory, its location had limited what could be done.
Banham’s planning document said: “Due to it being located within central Attleborough and constrained by the existing layout and design, Banham prefers to build a new facility incorporating updated and purpose-built technology to relocate the Station Road operation in its entirety.”
The new proposals follow a string of complaints from local residents over the foul odour coming from the Station Road factory. In February, about 50 people attended a public meeting with councillor Rhodri Oliver to discuss their concerns.
Re-focused
Banham’s re-centred focus on returning to Bunns Bank also comes six months after it was bought out of administration by Chesterfield Poultry as part of a pre-pack deal, which saved more than 1,000 jobs.
The sale ended days of speculation about the future of the Attleborough-based poultry business, with Bernard Matthews also having declared an interest in its acquisition.
Meanwhile, last month, Blackburn-based pie business Pie Mezzanae has unveiled plans to expand the business and hire more staff, as it aims to smash its three-year turnover target.
