An expansion of March Cold Stores including a new cold storage building with plant rooms and six loading docks has been given the green light by planners.

The proposals for the site in Marwick Road had caused concern among residents about appearance, noise and loss of light when they were first submitted.

However, Fenland District Council praised the company - which currently has a capacity of 6200 pallets - saying that businesses needed to be “encouraged” in the local area.

Alongside the expansion, there will be 14 vehicle charging points, two condensers and a new hard standing area.

Councillor Dee Laws said: “We need to encourage businesses in this area and I think they have worked very hard, which was shown on the site visit.

“The area was kept tidy despite there being dusty areas from HGV’s entering, which could possibly be eliminated from the use of a water spray.

“Therefore I am for this application.”

Chairman Councillor Alex Miscandlon added: “It was a priority to reduce the dust levels on vehicles entering and exiting the site and this has been demonstrated.”

The new build will be near to the existing operation area and partly on rough grassland alongside the rear gardens of houses on Elm Road.

Following objections to the original proposal the applicant, Martin Savage, amended the scheme moving it 15 metres further away from residents and reducing the height of the building.

An acoustic fence will also be built.

It was noted that a contribution towards the alteration of the Traffic Regulation Order would be made to stop on street parking at the access of Marwick Road and to increase accessibility and improve the layout of the junction.

The planning application states: “It is concluded that the amended proposal is unlikely to result in significantly detrimental impact on the amenity of the occupiers of adjacent dwellings, and the degree of additional vehicular intensification considered along with highway improvements at the junction of Elm Road and Marwick Road will not result in severe harm to the use of the highway network.”

A decision was made at a Planning Committee meeting at Fenland Hall yesterday (June 20).

Owned by Savage Haulage, March Cold Stores licenses for food storage including meat and poultry.