Tunnock’s bake to the future
Expansion means 30 jobs
Plans to extend Uddingston’s Tunnock’s factory were given the green light this week despite 11 objections to the scheme.
The three-storey extension at the Old Mill Road site – which will house two upper floors of production space, with car parking and delivery access below – was approved by South Lanarkshire’s planning committee.
Opponents to the proposal included Crofthead Street residents who live adjacent to the site. They argued the extension would create more noise and smell, block sunlight to their homes and cause disturbance at night from extended operations.
Uddingston Community Council also opposed the proposal pointing to children’s road safety through increased traffic near Crofthead Park.
South Lanarkshire planning chief Michael Mcglynn told councillors the extension would bring the factory’s operational floorspace closer to some residents’ properties, but insisted that there “should be no significant impact in terms of noise associated with the development”.
He added: “No new or additional external ventilation or flues will be accommodated on the extension, with the proposed floorspace being vented to the existing systems. The building will also require to be appropriately insulated through Building Standards legislation, and it is noted that environmental services have offered no objections to the proposal subject to a condition relative to acceptable noise levels for the operation. Whilst this can be attached as a condition on any consent issued, any issues in this regard would be pursued through environmental health legislation.”
Mr Mcglynn further pointed out there would be no significant increase in HGV deliveries. He also said the anticipated increase in staffing would be on night shift when demand for car parking is reduced.
He added: “It is...noted the applicants propose reconfiguration of their internal parking layout, which in itself does not require planning permission, in an effort to maximise parking.”
Third party representations, he concluded, were not significant enough to warrant the refusal of the proposal. The scheme involves 30 extra night shift jobs at the factory which employs 532 people on day, back and night shift, along with 37 office staff, four security staff and six long-distance drivers.
There should be no significant impact