TATTON MP George Osborne and Holmes Chapel MP Fiona Bruce have been asked to lend their support to a groundbreaking new rural business hub in Cheshire.

Both MPs paid a visit to Middlewich on January 10 to hear a presentation from the people behind the multi-million pound Cheshire FRESH project.

Pochin Property, who is spearheading the project, outlined its plans to establish a 47-acre £40m mixed-use development which, if build, would span both of the MPs constituency boundaries.

Brian Reay, project director at Pochin, asked for the MPs to become champions for the project and for their support of the project’s Regional Growth Fund application for £5.1m which would be used for basic infrastructure.

Both MPs were impressed with the proposals and offered their onwards support for the project.

Mrs Bruce said: “This unique concept of providing an attractive, accessible venue for people to come and enjoy seeing livestock and horticultural training in action, complimented by a range of country food shops and rural product retailers has the potential to add substantially to the tourist economy of the area.

“I am pressing strongly for early Government funding for essential infrastructure to help kick-start this project which has my full – indeed enthusiastic – support.”

Included in the mixed-use development’s plans is a new Auction Centre, machinery dealership, business and office areas, retail areas, a hotel, restaurants and leisure facilities and the project has the potential to generate up to 700 jobs.

Frank Marshall and Wright Manley, who last year merged to form Wright Marshall, will occupy the new Auction Centre and will offer the full range of services currently provided, ranging from livestock, horticultural, machinery and fine art auctions through to residential, commercial and agricultural property sales.

Mr Osborne said: “I am a huge supporter of this scheme that will not only bring hundreds of jobs here but give a real boost to the farming economy in the area.

“It is a great show of confidence for rural Cheshire.”