A PHARMACEUTICAL giant based in Holmes Chapel is set to be given the go-ahead to expand its base after planning officials said the proposals would 'bring economic benefits to the village through the delivery of new jobs and investment'.

Cheshire East Council's southern planning committee is due to discuss Sanofi's application to redevelop its site at its meeting on Wednesday, November 25.

The firm currently employs 320 staff and is the company's inhalation and nasal spray centre supplying markets worldwide.

Sanofi is seeking outline approval for its 2017 masterplan to facilitate planned future growth over the next five years. The plan involves extensions to its Area 12 manufacturing building, its Area 11 warehousing building, its Area 77 laboratory building and its Area 37 stability building.

It also wants consent to demolish Building 15 and extend Building 13. The current Building 13 comprises an entrance reception, a canteen, changing facilities and the site management office, and the company wants to refurbish and extend the existing building on two sides to provide a new main entrance reception to the site, a larger restaurant, new meeting and conference facilities, office space and associated facilities.

In its planning statement it said: "Sanofi is currently experiencing a period of growth at its operations in Holmes Chapel with additional third-party products being manufactured under contract. In addition, a further area of growth is utilisation of its site-wide facilities to undertake research, development and manufacturing of new drug products for third-party companies."

John and Thelma Dutton, of Arran Close in the village, were the only residents to submit a letter of objection to Cheshire East Council.

"The development is massive and will involved a car park with 350 spaces which is indicative of the increase in traffic the area will suffer," the couple said.

"It is claimed that many new jobs will be created. However, none of these jobs is likely to be filled by local people. Hence the development will simply increase traffic to and from areas away from Holmes Chapel so vastly increasing traffic problems as a result of the inadequate local road system, especially at times when accidents occur on the M6, an increasingly frequent happening."

They added: "The development might be sustainable so far as Sanofi is concerned. However, the project will not in reality be sustainable so far as the local infrastructure and services are concerned."

The site comes under Brereton Parish Council's remit, who decided to back the plans.

If approved work would start next month and be complete by the end of 2016.