Bentley Motors has unveiled a long-term plan to create a ‘campus style’ site to cement its future in South Cheshire.
The company, one of the biggest employers in the Crewe and Nantwich area, has drawn up the plan after discussions with Cheshire East Council.
But expansion could see the closure of parts of Pyms Lane and Sunnybank Road to the public, and the council’s household waste depot being moved.
Bentley’s aim is to develop a modern, advanced manufacturing operation which will be more efficient, secure and productive.
And it is hoped the campus-style site will help Bentley expand in the region, creating more jobs. It will be a centre for manufacturing, design, research and development.
A framework for the plan, managed by Cheshire East Council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company, will be used in potential future planning applications relating to the site as the company seeks to expand.
But no decision has been taken on these proposals, which will form part of the consultation.
Any future change to road access would need a planning application.
Cheshire East says there are no plans to close the council’s household waste recycling centre at Pyms Lane.
Cllr Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Bentley Motors’ operation at the Pyms Lane site is of paramount importance to the local, regional and indeed national economies.
“More than 4,000 people are employed directly by the company, which provides many apprenticeship opportunities locally.
“It is also Crewe’s largest single employer, accounting for more than £1 billion of UK exports each year.
“More than 80 of Bentley’s suppliers are located within 50 miles of the site, which subsequently benefits local businesses.
“This draft development framework seeks to show how Bentley’s long-term aspirations align with the council’s wider ambitions for growth and the regeneration in Crewe in the light of the opportunities afforded by HS2.
“By providing a clear potential future site boundary, the framework gives increased clarity between Bentley’s future growth ambitions and other developments locally.”
Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said: “This development framework represents a long-term vision for what our factory could look like in the future, based on successfully achieving all of our business objectives over the coming years.
“It is vital we plan for the long-term future of our business as we look to evolve our headquarters into industry-leading facilities within a single site.”
The framework will go before Cheshire East’s Cabinet on December 6 for approval as a document for public consultation.
As part of a public consultation, Bentley will host drop-in events at its Pyms Lane offices on January 12 (3pm to 8pm) and January 14 (10am to 2pm).
Cheshire East is expected to decide in spring 2017 on whether to endorse the masterplan, subject to the responses of the consultation.
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