An industrial unit in Lydney will be knocked down to make way for a modern factory and better staff facilities, after Forest of Dean planners (FoDDC) agreed to the outline bid.

Lydney Pallets and Cases Ltd will demolish a key 35-year-old building on their 0.31 hectare site at 130 Lydney Industrial Estate, which is accessed from the town's Harbour Road. The new replacement will have a floor area of 386 square metres. 

As well as increasing production efficiency, the replacement building will also provide a canteen and improved toilets for the business.

The company, begun in the 1980s by Gloucestershire businessman Normal Nelmes, was originally at the Pine End works in Lydney and was acquired last year by Green Earth Investments, with Nick Shrager and Stephen Marshall becoming co-directors under a stated aim to grow the business both locally and nationally. Its new owner has made a commitment to plant 24,000 trees in the first year of ownership.

Craig Tucker, director, told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "We don't know exactly when work will begin, pending the full paperwork from planning, but will be looking for quotes."

He added: "Once the upgrade is done though, we envisage more jobs being available with us, adding to the 13 staff we have already."

Lydney Pallets sources its FSC-certified timber for manufacturing from Sweden, with imports coming via Rochester and Hull. 

Key clients include Watts Aviation, who are specialists in moving Goodyear aviation tyres and REID lifting, who ship high-value products as far afield as Australia, although the company has also built an excellent reputation for bespoke, smaller batches with local and regional firms.

Architects John Elves Associates, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, submitted sketches of the new facility and case officer Matthew Green told FoDDC that the proposal would replace "an existing out of date building which is approximately 35 years old and in need of repair".

All proposals met with existing planning policies and frameworks.

Mr Green added: "The site is situated well within the Lydney Industrial Estate a considerable distance from a highway there will be no impacts on the public realm. In addition, given that the proposed workshop will be located within the established commercial site... the workshop will be seen in connect [sic] of the existing industrial units."

Lydney Town Council and all consulted parties raised no objection to the changes at the site.