PLANS for a £35 million new business park on the edge of Wellington have been given a major boost by district council officers who will be influential when the planning application is decided.

Chelston Heath LLP wants to build the development on a 9.4-acre green wedge of land running along the West Buckland side of the Chelston roundabout to M5 road.

District council planners have been told by National Highways they should not determine the application before at least the end of July because the company has still to provide evidence that local roads could cope with the extra traffic.

In the meantime, the council’s principal planning policy officer Laura Higgins and economic development specialist Gordon Dwyer have both backed the proposals as supporting the area’s economic growth.

Mr Dwyer said in a report to the planning department: “The types of commercial business units being proposed seem sensible in terms of what the market is currently seeking.

“Demand for light industrial units is strong and we note the inclusion of trade counter units and options for smaller business start-up units which is likely to be well received by the local business community.”

Ms Higgins said in a separate report: “Demand for industrial floorspace is described as strong and is expected to either remain strong or potentially grow further. Industrial floorspace in close proximity to the M5 such as this application could therefore potentially deliver significant economic benefits.” Ms Higgins added there were not the same kind of targets for employment development as there were for housing because long-term need was difficult to forecast so a ‘flexible approach’ was important.