Plans for a new dairy building at Bates Dairy in Birkdale, one of the largest employers in Southport, have been approved by Sefton Council.
The scheme will see the firm increase its number of full-time employees at its headquarters on Stamford Road in Birkdale from 106 to 110.
The new 202 square metre construction, following the demolition of the existing enclosure, will be used as a bottling room for milk bottle washing and filling.
Bates Dairy has enjoyed a significant boost to its business since the Covid pandemic began, with more customers opting for home deliveries. Increasing numbers of people also value the environmentally friendly nature of the firm, which uses recycled glass bottles for its milk instead of the plastic containers favoured by supermarkets.
Bates Dairy, a family-run business, has been providing fresh milk and dairy products for over 75 years.
The firm delivers the freshest milk, six days a week to over 10,000 doorstep and wholesale customers across Merseyside, Lancashire and Wirral in its fleets of eco-friendly electric milk floats, modern vans and hard working wagons.
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “The existing commercial dairy site is accessed from Stamford Road within a primarily residential area of Birkdale. The building subject to this proposal is positioned to the eastern edge of the site abutting Broome Close.
“The proposal is for the erection of a detached building to be used as a Dairy building, following the partial demolition of the existing building.
“There is an extensive history to this long standing commercial site with recent approvals relating to replacement milk silos, extension to an existing cold store building and the change of use of open greenspace to vehicle parking.
“The main issue to consider in respect of this application is the impact of the new building on the living conditions of neighbouring properties as the proposal will not affect the character of the area given the existing commercial dairy use to this site.
“This building will be used as a bottling room, and will largely infill a gap to the north-eastern boundary of the site, with a resulting increase in height to the boundary between the dairy and Broome Close.
“In respect of noise disturbance a noise assessment has been submitted for this proposal in which it is stated that the hours of operation of this bottling room will be 7am-1pm and the agent for the application confirmed that the room would be used Monday to Saturday.
“Details of the construction of the building and the noise from the existing bottling room have been assessed and a likely outcome has been modelled for this proposal. It is concluded within the submitted noise assessment that the proposal will have a ‘low impact on the nearest noise sensitive properties’.
“Subject to a condition limiting the hours of use of the bottling room it is therefore considered that this proposal will not give rise to unacceptable noise impacts on the occupiers of Broome Close.”
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