A BOOMING Blackburn business is proposing a major expansion creating 60 jobs.

Pets Choice has submitted a planning application for a new warehouse, industrial unit and shop at its Lower Philips Road base on the Whitebirk Industrial Estate.

Founded in 1987 it supplies brands dating back to the 19th century including Davies Dog Food, which begun production in 1881 and Bob Martin, founded in the 1890s.

The expansion of its site is to accommodate the transfer of production to Blackburn from Germany and France and aims to create 60 new full-time jobs.

Local Little Harwood and Whitebirk ward's Cllr Abdul Samad Patel said: "If this is going to create jobs that is ok. It is a successful firm and it is good see see it expanding."

A planning statement submitted with the application to Blackburn with Darwen Council says: "Pets Choice are a leading pet food manufacturer based in Blackburn, Lancashire, with a worldwide customer base. Pets Choice have an industry knowledge spanning over 135 years, providing pets and wild animals all over the globe with a variety of food at competitive prices.

"Pets Choice supply partners in the grocery, independent, and pet speciality sectors (both in the UK and abroad) with high-quality products in a variety of formats.

"Their state-of-the-art UK manufacturing facilities and warehousing facility mean product quality is controlled from the beginning to the end of the product journey.

"This application seeks planning permission for a new 120,000 square foot warehouse with three-storey offices, as well as a change of use for the conversion of the existing packing building to ancillary retail, in addition to a new access road.

"The proposal intends to change the existing industrial building used for packing operations to form a retail unit, which will be ancillary to the greater Pets Choice operations and production facilities.

"The ancillary retail unit is intended to operate on Thursday to Saturday for wholesalers and the general public. .

"In addition, the proposed development intends to erect a new industrial unit that will also include an ancillary office area across three storeys, located to the east of the development site.

"Pets Choice aspires to use the additional space to support the location change of the manufacturing of their products from Germany and France to the local area.

"This will support their ambitions to be more sustainable, reducing transport of their products and subsequently reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, while also providing roughly 60 new full-time jobs within the local area."