The factory expansion in Newtown gets the green light from city councilors

Plans by Pear Stairs, owned by Boys and Boden, to create a factory construction and reprofiling land at Unit A on the city’s Vastre industrial estate was returned to councilors during a meeting of Powys County Council Planning Committee on Thursday, October 31.

A decision on the application was previously postponed planning committee meeting on October 14 due to ‘inappropriate public consultation’, ahead of the meeting in terms of ‘committee procedures’.

Delaying the proposal allowed more objectors to appear before the committee to express their views on the application.

Senior planning officer Kate Bowen again recommended councilors approve the application.

Ms Bowen said: “The public statements have been carefully considered.

“The economic benefits of the proposal are recognized and given weight as the development would support the relocation and expansion of an existing business.”

A council spokesperson confirmed that the application has been approved.

Boys and Boden purchased the location in November 2020, saying the expansion is necessary to support an expansion of the company’s operations.

The company said moving the existing Pear Stairs factory to Newtown is “integral” to the future of the business as it has “outgrown” its current base at Mill Lane in Welshpool.

It said it will “not only” secure the 62 existing jobs, but also increase its workforce by 40 percent by creating 25 new jobs.