Factory’s plans for cold unit
Parking also proposed
A Bridge of Allan meat factory is planning an expansion.
Scotbeef is planning to extend its food factory and create a trailer parking area next to its plant at Longley’s Farm off Carse of Lecropt Road.
The company has submitted an application to Stirling Council planners and say the proposal is intended to increase the cold storage capacity on the site with a new cold store building.
They say this will give them more flexibility to produce, store and sell Scottish beef and lamb products, replacing older refrigeration equipment with new environmentally efficient equipment.
The proposal is not expected to create jobs in the near future. Around 322 staff are currently employed at the facility including 15 administration staff, 104 in butchery, 184 in producing/packing and 19 in cleaning/hygiene.
In documents submitted with the application, agents for Scotbeef said: “The proposal also includes the provision of a trailer parking area and for a reorganised road layout in the immediate vicinity of the new building. This will increase the efficiency and storage capacity of the present operation, providing greater competitiveness for Scottish produce against products from England, Wales and further afield.
“It will reduce costs by eliminating the need to rent cold store space elsewhere, and reduce traffic movements to rented cold store units elsewhere.”
The agents say the proposed building would be an extension to the food production facility which has been on the site for decades and was extended in 1999.
They added: “The proposed building will be sited on a grassed area in front of an older building containing existing chills. It is to the side of the factory and not easily visible from surrounding areas, and despite its height it is screened from Bridge of Allan by tree planting on the boundary of the site.
“There is expected to be no change to the current vehicle flow which comprises 40-60 vehicles movements in and out, mostly cattle floats and Scotbeef HGV units, per day. It will, however, reduce seasonal variation due to the ability to smooth out peaks in the market both for livestock, and from the consumer.
“The proposal will also eliminate unnecessary HGV movements to and from the Scotbeef Factory, to and from rented cold store units elsewhere.
“It also includes an expanded area for trailer parking, and for reorganised local defined pedestrian walkways. This will avoid trailers not in current use being stored on roadways, will remove them from the main routes within the site, and will make pedestrian and vehicle movements within the site easier and safer.
“The current proposal does not involve an immediate increase in staff numbers. It does however introduce greater efficiency, and creates the possibility increased trade and employment in the future. It is also a further step in ongoing environmental improvements on the site.
“It secures current and future employment by improving Scotbeef’s competitiveness against the best facilities in England, Wales and Ireland, and across Europe. Scotbeef exports a significant proportion of its Scottish produced beef and lamb products.”
Council planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.