A WELL-established engineering giant and a fledgling venture look set to bring extra employment to Ribble Valley.

Proposals for extra warehousing have been given the green light at Fort Vale Engineering, in Simonstone, alongside a new cafe complex for workers.

And blueprints for the construction of 27 new light industrial units, on a former golf driving range off Lincoln Drive, Clitheroe, have been approved by the borough's planning and development committee.

For Fort Vale, their new addition will help to provide fresh storage for the engineering outfit, which has been based at Calder Vale Park since 2005.

Planning agent Paul Tunstall said that when the plans went ahead, it would lead to the establishment of around 20 more posts.

"Only three jobs will be created within the warehouse building as much of the equipment will be automated," he added.

"However, alongside the staffing of the cafeteria, the additional space created within existing buildings will lead to more staff being appointed and ultimately, an increase in productivity at the site."

Architects Fletcher Rae has previously worked with Fort Vale on building their new head offices, advanced manufacturing facilities, research and development building, sports hall and foundry.

Managing director Andrew Rae said the new buildings reflected the "progressive nature" of their clients.

The golf driving range in Clitheroe, which will make way for the new light industrial park, brought forward by James Alpe Ltd, ceased trading in 2014.

And some units have already been erected on the southern portion of the wider site.

Planning agent Alan Kinder said the proposals were, in effect, a redesign of a previously-approved scheme, which involved dividing larger buildings into smaller units, to meet market demands.

Councillors approved the Lincoln Way application, subject to conditions on drainage, lighting and landscaping being met, to the satisfaction of the council's community services director John Heap.