A company successfully “supporting the agricultural industry” will increase its capacity and employment figures with an expansion at its Haverfordwest site.

Puffin Produce plans to build new offices, produce processing unit, staff car park and water treatment plant at its Withybush site increasing its production capacity by 50 per cent from 1,000 tonnes a week to 1,500 tonnes.

By next summer an extra 40 jobs will also be created, bringing the number employed to 200.

The development, on around 0.75 hectares of its existing site, involves the demolition of two existing offices, with the new building standing 18.8metres at its highest point.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee agreed to approve delegated power to the interim head of planning, David Popplewell, to grant permission once issues with drainage are resolved.

At its meeting on July 31 the committee heard that the surface water drainage proposal was “unacceptable in its current form.”

Councillor David Pugh said he had “no hesitation in supporting this 100 per cent,” calling the company a “success story.”

Also expressing support was Cllr David Bryan, who added: “It’s the economic benefits to the town and the county which count on this one.”

One person had objected to the proposal citing traffic and noise issues caused by construction and the impact on their health and well-being, as well as house value.

Cllr Brian Hall, who moved the recommendation to approve, said the development would be a “massive building on top fo what is already there.”

He added: “I think the company is going from strength to strength.”

The application for the demolition of two office buildings and part of the production facility and the construction of replacement offices (with reception), a new produce processing unit, car parking, a new water treatment plant – which will recycle and resuse water fro cleaning produce – was unanimously supported by the committee.

PIC (from planning application) Artist impression of what will be built at Puffin Produce as it expands its capacity in Haverfordwest.