By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 13:57, Wednesday, 16 January 2013

The path has been cleared for a Maryport firm to move forward with plans to leave the town for a bigger site.

West Port

Door and window manufacturer West Port submitted a legal document to Allerdale council about the possibility of moving to Lillyhall Business Park, near Workington, because it had outgrown its premises.

The council has now told the company that an environmental impact assessment is not required – meaning that if it does decide to progress with a planning application it will make it will speed up the progress.

Planning consultant for the firm, Bob Metcalfe, of Lamplugh-based MJN Associates, said that it is still “very early days” and the company is only looking at the possibility of moving.

He added that a decision about whether a planning application will be submitted, will be made by the developers – Henry Boot Developments.

If the new build does go ahead, opposite the Energus Centre, it would be twice the size of the current one on the Solway Industrial Estate.

West Port - which has just won a major contract to supply the windows and doors at a new Center Parks site in Bedfordshire - has been looking for a new site for two years, but has not been able to find any suitable locations in Maryport. This was due to the proximity to houses, flood risk issues and heritage assets of any possible sites.

“We believe the site at Lillyhall will fulfil most of the objectives,” said Mr Metcalfe.

Allerdale’s development services department said that the proposal does not “constitute major development of more than local importance.”

Because the development is not considered to have unusually complex or potentially hazardous environmental effects, it does not need an impact assessment.

West Port’s new contract for the Center Parks site will see the firm supply 4,000 timber windows and 2,000 doors.

It will produce the fittings for the site’s 625 forest lodges, a 75-bed hotel, spa suites and facilities.

The firm, owned by the VKR Group, has become one of the UK’s largest bespoke timber window and door manufacturers.

It has also supplied windows to TV chef Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Glasgow, as well as supplying windows to large London hotels.

First published at 13:55, Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk