As many as 30 jobs are promised at a new centre in Oakham by an agricultural supplies company.

Ben Burgess has formally submitted a planning application to Rutland County Council to create the new centre to serve Rutland on 1.53ha of Hawksmead Business Park, south of Huckamore Way,

As previously reported by Nub news, the company seeks to create a permament home to serve the county and replace temporary premises opened earlier this summer, after it became the local dealer for John Deere.

The proposed Ben Burgess Depot (Agricultural Machinery Dealership) would include one 2250m2 portal framed building and associated external infrastructure including landscaping.

The site, which is currently vacant and designated employment land would employ 15 people full-time, initially, rising up to 30, including apprentices.

The premises would offer the repair and maintenance of agricultural and horticultural machinery including wash down area. Machinery will include wide range of power tools, compressor, ramps, hoses, pressure washer, Air Source Heat Pump's, Air Conditioning Units, etc.

The application promieses "a quality development to create a purpose built premises consisting of workshops, stores, offices and agricultural sales and display area on allocated employment land on Hawksmead Park.

"The land will be accessed off Hackmore Way with an additional entrance/exit point onto Maresfield Road."

It concluded the scheme would deliver "a range of key planning benefits for the Oakham area". They would include:

"* Creating proposed employment opportunities with an initial workforce of 15 rising to 30 jobs roles including apprenticeships;

"* the creation of a new depot for an existing established business serving the rural economy;

"* delivery of much needed employment, thereby assisting the Local Authority meeting its employment needs;

"* wider economic benefits in relation to inward investment in farmers/producers and support industries which benefit from the locational"

Furthermore, it said there would also be advantages of having the depot of Ben Burgess in the area;

"* a proposal designed to integrate a modern and sustainable design with its setting (the site layout and building design take a holistic view of design, landscape and environmental issues);

"* delivery of training areas to enable Ben Burgess to assist rural businesses fulfil their competitiveness and achieve the most out of new technologies;

"* creation of a safe and inclusive development that is fit for purpose;

"* a scheme that will not generate any significant additional traffic with a use which requires a semi-rural location in order to best serve its catchment area and customers."

The application added: "There are no protected areas or assets of particular importance affected by the proposals and there are no adverse impacts to granting planning permission which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposals and the planning application should therefore be approved."