A MAJOR extension to a warehouse on a fast-growing industrial estate creating more than 150 jobs has been approved at the second attempt.

Burnley Council’s development control committee on Thursday night gave permission for Exertis UK Ltd to add almost a third of extra capacity to its existing distribution centre on the Burnley Bridge Business Park in Hapton.

The extension will add 212,495 square feet to the 543,620 square foot Technology House on Magnesium Way.

It is expected to create between 150 and 200 new jobs.

A previous application to extend the centre in 2018 was turned down for fears it would generate too much traffic for the local road system. Approval was moved by Burnley Council growth boss Gordon Birtwistle and agreed with only Hapton with Park Conservative Alan Hosker voting against the plans.

A report by planning officers said that the ceiling of 248 vehicles a day using the Burnley Bridge Business Park required so as to ensure that M65 junction 9 as a whole can operate safely during peak periods no longer applied after improvements to the Rosegrove Junction of Rossendale Road and Accrington Road.

Their report said: “Whilst this is a large extension, the design and appearance are appropriate to its context. It will help secure the expansion of an existing business within the borough.”

There were more than 25 objections to the extension concerned about issues including traffic, the impact and the Leeds Liverpool Canal, the degradation of trees and landscape, noise and the poor design, appearance and size of the building.

Cllr Birtwistle said: “The extension will be good for the borough’s economy after a very difficult time with coronavirus. It will eventually create between 150 and 200 much-needed jobs.”

The approval comes shortly after Burnley Bridge’s Yorkshire-based developer Eshton submitted plans for a £50million 500,000 square foot new industrial park next to the southern section of the existing one.