A NEW office building at Tata Chemicals Europe's Lostock Works has been given the go-ahead by planners.

The three-storey building would constitute part of the reorganisation of the Lostock Gralam site, offering modern offices, meeting rooms, canteen, and changing and welfare facilities.

The building, of up to 14m in height, will have a footprint of 527sq m with 50 office personnel relocated from the existing offices to the new building.

Parts of the building would be required 24 hours a day, and planners say the proposal supports 'sustainable economic growth in a suitable location'.

A Cheshire West and Chester Council planning officer said: "The site is currently occupied by a disused occupational health centre and carpark.

Northwich Guardian:

The plans relate to the car parking area to the north of the works

"The application site is predominately hardstanding which is currently used as car parking and has a redundant 212sqm building which would be demolished

"The application is part of an internal reorganisation of the wider Lostock works site. The proposal is for a replacement office building with ancillary facilities including car parking."

TCE's planning statement said: "Approximately 50 personnel, who work within the existing workshop and plant areas will utilise the amenity facilities within the building and shift workers who work solely within the plant areas will use the locker areas to change into full PPE."

The plans also include a consolidation of parking for the wider Lostock site of 264 parking spaces, and a car wash area.