Expansion of a Widnes chemical site with construction of a new warehouse looks set to be rubber-stamped by planning chiefs.

Halton Council’s development management committee is recommended to back an application by Croda Europe for a 1,345 sq m structure at its Foundry Lane site.

The firm employs 120 staff and manufactures and distributes specialised chemicals which are used in industries such as agriculture and healthcare. A report due to be considered by the committee said it forms part of a series of planned projects at the site designed to 'expand and improve' its business, which it said would provide employment in the area.

It said: “This is a similar scale and height to those within the adjacent Croda site and is considered to not detrimentally impact on the amenity or character of the surrounding area. The proposal is considered to be acceptable in terms of scale and compliant with policy.”

The nearest impacted residential properties are on an estate east of Hale Road, with the closest properties located on Baynard Drive more than 200m from the proposed development.

The report added: “The proposal is not likely to result in a detrimental impact on the amenity of the closest occupiers, as there is considered to be sufficient separation gap and screening.”

It said the Government’s health and safety watchdog the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had not raised any objections. The report added that the proposed development would provide an employment site in a sustainable location, providing flexible opportunities, and offering an ‘attractive viable site’ to ‘deliver business needs in Halton’.

Recommending approval, the report concluded: "Subject to satisfactory confirmation based on an updated preliminary roost assessment of trees the application is recommended for approval subject to conditions."

A separate application for the proposed demolition of existing chemical factory and the construction of a new 12 metre high chemical factory is currently pending consideration.