PLANS to expand a pet food firm and create 50 jobs have been given the go-ahead.

Pets Choice unveiled its plans to enlarge its Blackburn site in Lower Philips Road earlier this year when it purchased the premises next door.

And now, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning and highways committee has approved the major development.

It will see the construction of a three-storey office and a one-storey industrial unit extension of the premises.

The expansion will give the building an increased footprint of 570sq metres.

Demolition works of some buildings to make way for the development have already gone ahead.

The approved plans also include a new security fence.

Advising councillors to approve the proposal, council planning officers said: “The council is keen to encourage business retention and growth within the borough.

“The site is bound by similar industrial development and a dual carriageway to the south.

“The alterations to the building are unlikely to harm the amenity of neighbouring uses.

“Nearest noise sensitive premises (dwellings) are sited to the west on Tintern Crescent and are about 250m from the application site.

“Significant separation from the proposal and these dwellings is provided to minimise any concerns for the amenity of neighbours by virtue of dominance, light loss or over-shadowing from the building itself or noise disturbance from operation of the existing business.”