Major Jobs Boost as Pharma Plant Expansion Nears Green Light
A significant economic boost is on the horizon for Cheshire as Bespak, a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer, is expected to receive the green light for a major expansion of its Holmes Chapel facility. The ambitious project promises to create approximately 150 new jobs and enable the production of next-generation, climate-friendly medical inhalers.
Planning Approval Recommended for Key Development
Cheshire East Council's southern planning committee is scheduled to deliberate on the application during its meeting on Wednesday, December 3. The session will take place at 10am at Delamere House in Crewe. Council planning officers have already recommended the scheme for approval, a sentiment echoed by Holmes Chapel Parish Council.
The proposed development involves constructing a substantial 7,091 square metre, two-storey extension to the existing manufacturing building. This new facility will occupy a 1.98-hectare area to the west of the current building and to the east of London Road, a site currently characterised by a soil mound. The plans also include an external service yard and a covered storage area measuring 270 square metres.
Driving Innovation in Respiratory Healthcare
This expansion is strategically vital for meeting growing global demand for respiratory health products. A report from Cheshire East planning officers clarified the project's core purpose: "The proposed development will deliver two new high-specification fill lines and associated technical and support spaces which are critical to expanding the production capacity at the site."
Bespak, which specialises in inhaled and nasal drug delivery for conditions like asthma, aims to use this new capacity for a crucial environmental initiative. The report highlighted: "Propellants used in inhalers are classed as greenhouse gases. This expansion will allow Bespak to produce next-generation environmentally friendly inhalers which use significantly less greenhouse gases."
The project has also addressed potential local concerns. While acknowledging potential impacts from construction and the loss of some trees, the planning officer's report concluded these issues "can be kept to a minimum and controlled with the use of suitable planning conditions." Furthermore, the development was not found to pose significant highway safety issues, with the provided parking deemed acceptable given the site's sustainable location and access to public transport.
This expansion represents a significant commitment to both the local economy in Cheshire and the global effort to reduce the carbon footprint of essential medical devices.
