Victoria NichollsTurkey giant Bernard Matthews is seeking permission to build extensions at a factory site in Waveney.It is proposing to expand two of its buildings to improve efficiency at its site in Upper Holton, near Halesworth, that has been running for more than 25 years.Victoria Nicholls

Turkey giant Bernard Matthews is seeking permission to build extensions at a factory site in Waveney.

It is proposing to expand two of its buildings to improve efficiency at its site in Upper Holton, near Halesworth, that has been running for more than 25 years.

Bernard Matthews wants to build the two extensions that would increase the existing gross floor area of its factories, which is currently approximately 25,900m square, by about an eighth.

The planning application outlines proposals for a side extension to factory one, linking it to a cold store, and an extension at the front of factory two, at the same site off Scalesbrook Lane.

The application, which was submitted to Waveney District Council on December 23, states: 'The proposed development will be used to reorganise processing facilities at the two Halesworth factories, improving efficiency by creating some additional processing capacity and consolidating packing operations. Other existing operations and employee numbers at the Halesworth site are unaffected by these proposals.'

It adds that there is no anticipated increase in goods vehicle traffic as a result of the proposed development.

The application also states that the chairman of Holton parish council has been informed of the proposal.

Just three weeks ago controversial plans by Bernard Matthews to build five wind turbines near the site on a former airfield in Holton were given the go-ahead after the original decision to refuse the project was revoked.

Waveney District Council's development control committee had originally voted to reject the application but it emerged that a councillor had broken council rules during the meeting. Chris Punt resigned as portfolio holder for finance after it was revealed he had not declared that he lived in the area or that he worked for a firm that could be affected by the decision at the meeting when discussion and voting took place.

The project for the 100m-high turbines, that will be visible from up to 10km away across the Waveney Valley, had prompted opposition from Westhall Wind Watch. The group of objectors said that the turbines would have a negative visual and noise impact on people in the village.