J Murphy & Sons Limited, in Ollerton, see plans for £25million pylon training facility approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council

An business with a base in Ollerton’s plans to expand their facility, which will bring a £25million investment to the town, have been approved.

J Murphy & Sons Limited submitted a planning application to Newark and District Council’s planning committee to seek permission to re-develop their site, on Newark Road, to provide new plant and vehicle workshop, welding services workshop, office and training academy, and a pylon training facility — which will be only the second of its kind in the country, the first of which is located in Eakring.

The plans will see a new 1,500sqm office and training academy building erected, with a new workshop building with two integrated workshop buildings, both of which will be 2,500sqm in area and used for plant machinery and construction vehicle maintenance, alongside specialist welding and pipe testing services.

The site will also see a new pylon training area and associated viewing platform created, aiming to replicate the construction, operation, and maintenance of pylons and sub-stations, offering the opportunity for a training area for the dismantling and re-erection of pylons.

J Murphy is a third generation family business, founded in 1951, with 4,000 people employed across the UK, Ireland and the USA, and Mike Carpenter, managing director, said at the council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday (October 3) that the application would see the creation of 100 new well-paid and skilled jobs and opportunities for apprenticeships, with a £25million investment in Ollerton:

“We’re very proud of our involvement in the town over the last 25 years, however we now need to invest further in our operations,” he said.

“The new one-Murphy hub would see the relocation of specialist welding and pipe testing services from Leeds to Ollerton, and would ensure Murphy’s future in the area.

“I hope that your officers can support the recommendation for approval so we can stay and grow in Ollerton and support the growth in the future.”

Ward member Lee Brazier also spoke at the meeting, and said that the problem came with the impact on residents of nearby Kelsey Avenue, and that the land the site referred to would have some contamination on it from the now-closed Ollerton pit — but that the “positives outweigh the negatives” with the application:

“This is a national infrastructure on a local scale, to have the second infrastructure in UK for pylon training three miles from the other one [in Eakring] creates huge opportunity for this district and puts us firmly on the map in terms of industry and training opportunities,” he said.

“For me, it’s a no brainer this should be supported, not only for the reasons I’ve just stated but for financial impact this will have on Ollerton and surrounding areas.

“For the last 30 years we have been underfunded, underinvested, and has become a landlocked community with no prospects. To see this number of new opportunity for careers in area for well trained and paid careers and apprenticeships is real progression opportunities and for me and I would encourage members to support this.”

Keith Melton spoke in favour of the development: “The site visit this morning was impressive, the view of whatever is being built doesn’t impinge on anybody’s vision, there may be a view of pylons from distance but I live in Staythorpe —you can get used to these things.

“I think this is proportionate and is important locally for work and employment opportunities, specifically I want to say the company has demonstrated it is a good neighbour, the site is immaculate for the organisation that it is, and also what they are doing is moving noisy elements out of site and kindly planning a load of trees so you can’t see works. All in all it scores very well.”

Tim Wildgust said it is “brilliant” for local business and would support it, while vice-chairman David Moore was equally complimentary and said it was a “brilliant opportunity for Ollerton”.

Penny Rainbow did raise concerns over the hours of business and noise from the site, noting its proximity to the crematorium said: “I’m sure they would be good neighbours, but just want to confirm it isn’t going to be a terribly noisy site.” It was said that there is a CEMP (constructural and environmental management plan) during construction.

The plans were unanimously approved by the members.