AstraZeneca plant given go-ahead

The economic outlook for the region has been given a further boost after Macclesfield’s biggest employer was given permission to build a major manufacturing plant.

A-Z ’s new 8,890 sq m facility, at its Hurdsfield site, will employ 72 people.

Cheshire East Council has given planning permission to redevelop building 52 on the Hurdsfield site, despite concerns there is a ‘high risk of contamination’.

In a council officer’s report it said permission should be withheld until a separate planning application to agree a remediation strategy is approved.

The report said: “The application site was previously used for waste disposal and presents a high risk of contamination that could be mobilised during construction.

“Given the above risks, the local planning authority is not able to grant planning permission for this application until the extent of contamination is known and the remediation strategy agreed.”

But the council elected to pass the application with a condition that the remediation strategy must be agreed before work starts.

The application is for a pharmaceutical facility that would house manufacturing, technical, storage and preparation areas.

According to documents submitted with the application, the facility would meet regulatory requirements and supply the worldwide market for the next 20 years.

A report by consultants BakerHicks, says: “The construction of building 52 will ensure AstraZeneca maintain their position as a leading global biopharmaceutical business and marks a long-term commitment to continued manufacturing at the Macclesfield campus.

”In short, the proposed development will have a positive effect on economic growth in the area.”