Fears over expansion plan for busy industrial estate

A group of food manufacturers on the Leeming Bar Industrial Estate, off the A1 near Northallerton, have joined forces to expand the site in a move which is being backed by Richmondshire MP and Foreign Secretary William Hague and the regional Tory MEP Timothy Kirkbride.

But the consortium, which is currently considering a bid for financial aid from the Regional Growth Fund, says without better utilities at the site the scheme could be under threat.

Peter Pickthall, HR director at R&R Ice Cream which has joined the consortium alongside Holmesterne Foods and Vale of Mowbray, said: “The group is in discussion with the utility partners but progress is slow and we believe that future jobs are now at risk.

“Plans for further expansion by these ambitious companies, which will create much-needed jobs, are being jeopardised.

“Major investment is needed in the utilities such as electricity and gas but the main issues are those of water and trade effluent.”

Barry Dodd, chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Leeming Bar’s expanding food and drink hub has great potential and the enterprises have shown remarkable growth over recent years.

“Their plans will create hundreds of new jobs and bring opportunities for many other businesses around North Yorkshire. 

“The infrastructure issues outlined by the group need to be resolved collaboratively and quickly to enable the area to gain the economic benefits that this expansion will provide.”

A Yorkshire Water spokeswoman said: “The collective expansion plans of the consortium of businesses are significant and would increase Leeming Bar Industrial Estate from a population equivalent of 26,410 to 125,700.

“We are working closely with Yorkshire Forward, Hambleton District Council and the consortium to gain a better understanding of the timescales for the expansion plans at Leeming Bar Industrial Estate and the impact that this would have on the sewerage system in the area.