The boss of a Christchurch company has welcomed the “fantastic decision” by councillors to grant planning approval for housing on its current site.

John Reid & Sons Ltd (REIDsteel) obtained planning approval from BCP Council for up to 167 homes on its four-acre site off Fairmile Road in Christchurch.

It paves the way for the 130-strong company to relocate to a state-of-the-art new facility proposed near Bournemouth Airport.

BCP Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the residential scheme, which will also include parking and access.

Now REIDsteel will market the site for a developer to build the homes after it relocates.

Simon Boyd, Managing Director, pictured left, said: “This was a fantastic decision and a great start to 2020 for us.

“It will unlock the other steps which we need to follow for our relocation to the new manufacturing facility near Bournemouth Airport.

“The new site is absolutely vital for the future of our company and will allow us to significantly increase productivity, create more jobs and grow the business over the coming years while cutting our carbon footprint.”

The outline plans approved by the committee included a mix of two and three bedroom houses plus one and two bedroom flats plus car parking.

As well as much-needed housing the scheme also includes, through its Section 106 planning agreement, financial contributions of nearly £1m towards a new country park at nearby Two Riversmeet and monitoring of heathland.

REIDsteel will also fund signs and leaflets for the country park as well as a pedestrian crossing on Fairmile Road, a travel plan for local residents and road markings and traffic orders.

Mr Boyd said: “My thanks go to the committee for their decision as well as our partners in this project including BrightSpace Architects, Ken Parke Planning Consultants Ltd, Malcolm Barber at Sturt & Co and John Newman of Tangent Chartered Surveyors.”

A separate planning application for the proposed new site near Bournemouth Airport has also been lodged with the council and is due to be decided.

REIDsteel has the capacity to design, manufacture and supply entire steel buildings – including their cladding and glazing – anywhere in the UK, Europe and across the world.

It has exported to more than 140 countries to date.

The company  was founded in 1919 by Colonel John Reid and is still owned by the Reid family.