Drinks manufacturer Konings submitted a planning application in 2018 for an expansion of the existing plant located in Boxford, Suffolk. Permission for the new building; 15m high and a little greater than 2,000sqm with additional car parking, was submitted alongside supporting technical reports on traffic and flood risk produced by Richard Jackson Ltd (RJ Ltd).
Parish councils and local residents opposed the new application, claiming the expansion is not suitable in the rural location, however, it does help provide security for jobs and the future growth of the plant. The decision taken by Babergh District Council to approve the scheme, with no technical objections on the transportation or flood risk elements, shows how great supporting design and mitigation can gain support in a rural location. The project was thus granted planning permission in February 2019, this shows how RJ Ltd are helping grow the food, drinks and agricultural industry locally.
Phil Clark, Konings site lead in Boxford, said: “This is good news for Konings staff, their families, our local supply chain and indeed for the reputation of south Suffolk as a place that understands and supports growing businesses. This small height addition, on top of our existing planning approvals, will allow us to maximise our productive capacity and remain competitive in a tough market.”
