Boost for economy of Market Drayton as sawmill plans are approved

Market Drayton is set to receive a major economic boost after plans by Hales Sawmill to relocate to Adderley Road Industrial Estate and expand the business, creating up to 30 jobs, were granted planning permission by Shropshire Council.

Currently based in Hales in Staffordshire, Hales Sawmills was founded in 1982 and employs 35 people.  As the current site is no longer large enough for the business and is restricting the company’s growth, they wanted to find a new site for expansion, and through the investment team at Shropshire Council they were helped to find a larger site on Adderley Road Industrial Estate, and will now be able to expand, creating 20 – 30 jobs in 12 months’ time.

Over the past year, Shropshire Council has been working closely with Hales and providing a wide range of support, to give their proposed investment in Market Drayton every chance of success.

This has included allocation of a single point of contact in the business and enterprise team; pre-application planning support; ensuring that the planning application was ‘fast tracked’ through the process; identification of the site as an new employment area with the Local Development Framework; up to £10,000 match-funding from our latest Business Enterprise Fund grant scheme; and support with the application.

The council has also offered brokerage and making introductions to other business support schemes; support with recruitment and training, which includes apprenticeships schemes; and support to apply for funding from Rural Development Programme for England.

Now councillors have welcomed the granting of planning permission, which will see the development of a Saw Mill complex to include saw mill, treatment building, shop and offices, workshop building, store and a state of the art drying kiln.

Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:

“One of the top priorities for Shropshire Council is economic growth and prosperity, and to have strong market towns.  This investment in Market Drayton will provide a major boost to the town and to the local economy, helping to complement the £425,000 investment we are making through our Market Town Revitalisation Programme.”

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economic growth and prosperity, said:

“We’ve worked closely with Hales Sawmills from day one and pulled together a really strong investment team to help them develop their plans and make sure their planning application had every chance of success.  I’m delighted the application was approved.”

David Minnery, a Shropshire Councillor for Market Drayton West, said:

“I am delighted to see that we have again been able to support local businesses as they grow, as this will increase employment opportunities in the town.”

Roger Hughes, also a Shropshire Councillor for Market Drayton West, added:

“This is especially good news, being a major step in the growth of a long-established local family business.”