MORE than twenty new jobs will be created after the much needed redevelopment of a business estate.

The site, on Chapel Road in Ridgewell, is home to Greenfield Printing, Greenfield Coffins and Greenfield Care, which are all owned by William Hunneybel.

Braintree Council have granted permission to landlord B.C.Mitchams, who are based in Cambridgeshire, to start work on plans to redevelop the site with the help of Mr Hunneybel.

Mr Hunneybel said: “I need to grow and evolve and it's better to do it where I am rather than moving out of the area. You get to a point where you out grow the facilities.

“When I took the business over 12 years ago the site was run down. We have done a lot of work over the years but it has run its course.

“We are bursting at the seams here, it will make us a modern state of the art factory and increase the products and services we offer.”

The company will find out in the coming weeks when development can begin, and the work should take between eight and nine months to complete.

Among the changes will be the installation of a new digital printing press and Mr Hunneybel says that capacity of the printing business could increase four fold.

He said: “We will need more staff in a range of jobs from printing staff to office staff. It is a two year expansion plan once the factory has been built.”

The expansion plan estimates that in the two year period around 24 more full time staff will be needed at the site, creating rare job opportunities in the village.

New car parking, motorcycle and bicycle parking will also be added.

Mr Hunneybel said: “It has taken a while to get through the planning process because it is a preservation area.

“With my expansion plans it will generate more local jobs and it will regenerate the site.”