A joint venture to develop land at Hawksmead Business Park in Barleythorpe - creating at least 20 new jobs - looks likely to get the go-ahead next week.

Oakham-based C&M Retail Group and Moores Estate Agents have submitted a planning application to Rutland County Council to construct an industrial unit with retail sales for C&M Tractors, a vehicle showroom for start-up C&M VSS and two offices for Moores.

Rutland County Council planning officers are recommending the application is approved when it goes before members of the planning and licensing committee on Tuesday, 11 February.

The combined development will create at least 20 new jobs.

A document, by HSSP Architects on behalf of the applicants, says: "Moores have allied businesses which do not need a town centre location - Moores Commercial, Moores Equestrian and Country, Financial and Photography sectors.

"The application proposes the formation of a 'Property Hub' - a 'one stop shop' - containing the above businesses, along with allied professional uses such as production of CGI images, financial services and conveyancing/home extension design, rent a van removals and social media, personal manager and accounts.

"The hub will have a 'shop window' relating to estate agency use but this will compliment rather than replace their existing town centre location.

"The shop window will feature Moores Agricultural and Country Homes with Moores Estates being retained within the town centre."

In relation to C&M Retail Group, the document says a group of buildings will be built for service, repair and sales of horticultural and agricultural machinery and other agricultural vehicles.

"C&M Tractors are specialists in the supply and maintenance of lawnmowers, strimmers and other types of garden and agricultural equipment and are currently located on Station Approach.

"Their existing site is cramped with little opportunity for development.

"Phase one of their development will to the north of the site, with vehicle sales and their existing agricultural machinery being sold from this single building while the new vehicle sales venture is established.

"The vehicle sales will be relocated to a purpose-built building facing Hackamore Road once established as phase two development," adds the document.

The application is to be decided by the planning and licensing committee because it is a departure from the development plan which has allocated the site as 'employment land'.

Recommending the application is approved, a council report says: "While the development is on allocated employment land, the proposal would have economic benefits, create jobs, and would not be detrimental to the overall supply and quality of employment land within the county.

"The scale and design of the development is, acceptable and there would not be a significant impact upon the vitality or viability of the town centre."