Plans have been approved to build two new warehouses on the site of a redundant concrete plant at a Leek industrial estate.

The application was submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council by Highfield Stud Properties, and relates to land near the junction of Brooklands Way and Fynney Fields on the Basford Lane Industrial Estate in Leekbrook.

The site, which is around 3,420 square metres large, is surrounded by existing industrial units as well as an area of woodland and a small watercourse.

The warehouses are designed to provide additional storage space for businesses on the industrial estate.

A planning statement prepared on behalf of the applicant says: "The application site is a brownfield site and it is located in a sustainable location. Furthermore, it is encouraged by Local Plan objectives that seek to focus new and improved employment opportunities.

"This proposal delivers sustainability objectives by promoting the redevelopment of a redundant concrete processing facility and its redevelopment with two new warehousing units."

It added: "It is considered that this application will allow sustainable economic growth to continue at the site and provide much needed storage space to serve the existing business units already located on the industrial estate. The existing industrial estate is very well established and well used.

"There is however a significant shortfall of pallet storage provision within the immediate locality with a number of existing business having to rely on using remote sites in order to meet their needs. This obviously has a very significant and detrimental impact upon their productivity, efficiency and ultimately profitability.

"It is therefore anticipated that the two units will be used to provide additional storage capacity for existing businesses on the wider industrial estate."

The application was approved by the district council's planning officers this week.

A report by the council's officers says: "The proposal remains acceptable in terms of its overall principle and impacts on the visual and residential amenities of the area and the environment in general. The proposal would therefore comply with the Local Plan and the government planning guidance."