CHESHIRE East Council's cabinet is being urged to back Bentley Motors’ masterplan for its Pyms Lane headquarters site.

The recommendation from within the council comes after 70 per cent of almost 400 respondents to a recent consultation said they supported the site’s growth, with 48 per cent supporting the creation of a campus.

Cabinet members will consider the masterplan and development framework at a meeting on Tuesday, May 9, with a report by executive director for place Frank Jordan suggesting Bentley be backed.

Mr Jordan said: “The Bentley development framework and masterplan has been through a comprehensive consultation process, which has highlighted a range of issues, which need to be taken into account by Bentley Motors if the company is to pursue its vision of a campus environment.

“As a result of the consultation, there have been changes to strengthen the framework. More respondents support than object to the vision of a campus and a substantial majority support the growth of Bentley Motors.”

The campus would locate manufacturing, design, research and development, engineering operations and boosted security in a single integrated site with ‘seamless connectivity’ to enable ‘the efficient flow of people, goods and services’.

From the 369 questionnaire submissions and 10 letters returned before the February 14 deadline, Bentley has made various changes to its plans. Proposals remain to close off parts of Pyms Lane and Sunnybank Road to public traffic, although these would require further consultation and a formal planning decision.

Cllr Don Stockton, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Bentley Motors is of tremendous importance to the local, regional and national economies and so it has been important to have an opportunity to hear the opinions of local people and organisations.

“More than 4,000 people are employed directly by Bentley, which also provides many apprenticeship opportunities locally. It is Crewe’s largest single employer, accounting for more than £1 billion of UK exports each year – so it is important we get this document right.”

Part of the site’s long-term ambition is to develop the council’s household waste recycling centre in Pyms Lane. There are no current plans to close this centre, and any development would again be subject to further consultation.