PLANS to create more than 100 jobs have moved a step closer after electrical company Glen Dimplex was given permission to buy land for a new national base.

The company is to buy more than 14 acres of land at Network 65, Bentley Wood Road, Hapton, for the development of a national operations centre. The development would include a 240,000 sq ft warehouse, 10,000 sq ft of offices and car parking for more than 100 employees.

The development is likely to cost around £9m and will encompass distribution, warehousing, product conversion, sales and administration.

The Executive of Burnley Borough Council, the current owners of the site, approved the sale of the land to Glen Dimplex for £900,000.

A planning application for the development has now been lodged with the council and the company hopes to have the centre up and running by 2003.

The sale of the site and development would create around 100 new jobs and could help safeguard another 200.