SOCIAL housing company Community Housing Group has taken advantage of a streamlined planning process to expand its operations.

The group is building a brand new £1.5m depot for its Oakleaf subsidiary company at Finepoint Business Park on the A451 between Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn using a local development order through Wyre Forest District Council. This means the site can be redeveloped without the need for planning permission.

Cllr John Campion, Council cabinet member for planning for economic development and regeneration, said: “We are very pleased to see local organisations are using the local development order to take forward their business plans. Oakleaf’s development is exactly the sort of development we had in mind when adopting the Order and we hope to see more of this very positive local investment in the near future.”

The new Oakleaf facility will provide a new warehouse unit with a PVCu window manufacturing factory, joinery shop, garage and MOT centre and storage area.

Ian Hancock, managing director of Oakleaf, added: "Initially, there will be a total of 1500 square meters of commercial floor space and this relocation will see additional jobs created within the business. We anticipate the site will be developed further over the next few years as our business grows.”

The local development order is designed to simplify the planning process with the intention of encouraging new businesses to locate in the area and existing businesses to expand their operations. The order allows development in specific employment use classes to be undertaken without the need for planning permission. and includes a map which identifies the designated areas to which the order will apply.

The Oakleaf redevelopment follows the £5m investment from Amada, and the £1.2m development by Beakbane, which have also used the local development order to invest in their Kidderminster operations.