A MALVERN which is celebrating its 25 year of business has put in a planning application to relocate to a site just outside the town.

Essential Supply Products Ltd is one of the leading independent makers of disposable tissue products in the country, and employs 50 people at Enigma Business Park in Malvern Link and at Throckmorton, near Pershore.

The Malvern Gazette revealed a month ago that ESP was planning a move to Blackmore Park, near the Three Counties Showground, just outside the town.

Now ESP has put in a planning application to Malvern Hills District Council for the new factory and warehouse, which is meant to consolidate the company's operations on one site.

The company's managing director, Steve Briggs, says: "The acquisition of Blackmore Park provides us with a fantastic opportunity to develop a first class facility for the future development of the company, completely in keeping with our desire to continue a a Malvern and Worcestershire commercial success."

The proposed new building will include under one roof facility will provide 4,378 square metres for production, 10,644 square metres for the warehouse, and 525.5 square metres for office and welfare facilities.

The site off Blackmore Park Road was originally developed as a military hospital during the Second World War. It subsequently became an industrial estate, and although the remaining wartime buildings were recently demolished, the land remains allocated for industrial use.

The units at Throckmorton were first used after ESP’s warehouse at Enigma Park, separate from the factory, was destroyed in a major fire in November 2006. The warehouse was later rebuilt. but the firm continued to use the Throckmorton site.

Founded in 1990, ESP supplies its products to wholesale distributors serving the non-consumer market, such as hotels, restaurant, and industrial and healthcare sectors, and employs 50 people.

The application can be examined on the Malvern Hills District Council planning page by keying in the number 15/00419.