Go-ahead for Bells expansion

An expansion of a thriving Shotts business has been given the green light by council planners.

Plans by Bells to change the use of a vacant building at their base in Shottskirk Road in order to extend their bakery business was officially ratified by the council’s planning department last week.

Bells finance director Samantha Murray said: “We are delighted to have now received final planning approval for this project.

“The expansion of our existing Dykehead Bakery will provide significant addition to our cake and pastry manufacturing capacity.

“In doing so we will create an additional 10 to 15 permanent jobs upon project completion in around 18 to 24 months.”

Last year, Bells announced it was to invest £500,000 in the business by creating the dedicated cake bakery.

At that time, the company’s managing director Ronnie Miles said: “The investment in a dedicated cake bakery is the latest in a programme of capital expenditure and new product development across our sweet, savoury and pastry businesses.”

There were no objections to the proposals from members of the public.

The council report states: “The proposal is to link the two buildings by way of a connecting corridor and to re-clad and extend the smaller former storage depot in length westwards within the yard to create a dry goods storage area.

“The extension will result in some of the yard which could be used as potential parking space being lost.

“The application proposes eight lined- out parking spaces however the adjacent street has no parking restrictions.

“The proposed conversion and expansion of the industrial building is considered to be acceptable and will not detract from the amenity of the application site or the surrounding area.”