NEW jobs are set to be created in Hereford work on a new Hereford factory appears to be underway.

Herefordshire Council planners have told Tailor-Made Designs, based in Skylon Park, Rotherwas, that it can build a new office and manufacturing building.

Also as part of the scheme, the firm, which will move to The Straight Mile, wanted external timber storage racking, car parking and landscaping.

In a covering letter submitted with the plans, approved by planners last year, consultants said the firm had outgrown its current facilities in the nearby Twyford Road.

Now, groundwork appears to have started at the site where Tailor-Made Designs was told it could build its new factory.

Having moved from Ivington, near Leominster, to larger premises in Rotherwas in 2014, the company was able to grow its turnover to around £3.8 million and said it invested in more equipment and staff.

At the time plans were submitted, the company said it employed 10 office staff, 18 manufacturing staff and three drivers, the firm said it had been operating at full capacity for years, leaving it unable to match demand.

To be able to do so, it needed more factory space for machinery, and enough yard space for storage – something the approved scheme would bring.

Within three years of being at the new site, the company said it would be employing four more people in the office. Seven new factory operatives would also be needed, and another two drivers.

The roof and wall cladding at the new factory will "generally be a matt dark grey with trims in the company colour to define the silhouette of the building", the consultants said

The height of the new building would be 10 metres, plans showed, which consultants said was of "comparable proportions" to other buildings nearby.

Tailor-Made Designs, which specialises in the design and manufacture of roof trusses and posi-joists with a nationwide delivery service, had to seek confirmation that its plans would meet the needs of the enterprise zone terms and design requirements.

They are simplified planning system zones across the country can take advantage of.