AN award-winning company seems set to mature at its North Yorkshire base if planners approve a bid for an extension.

The Swaledale Cheese Company's reputation has been growing since moving to Richmond's Gallowfields Trading Estate in the late 1980s.

However, success has meant that the firm is rapidly outgrowing its buildings and the need for more storage space has become a priority.

Richmondshire District Council's planning committee will debate an application for an extension at a meeting at the authority's Swale House offices tomorrow evening.

It will not result in any more jobs but will give the firm more room to store maturing products as well as raw milk used in the manufacturing process.

There have been no objections from neighbours or from Richmond Town Council.

The district authority's Economic, Cultural and Leisure Unit, has also written to support the proposal.

"The expansion of the company will allow the business to remain in Richmondshire, therefore safeguarding existing jobs - an initiative which is to be supported," said spokeswoman Amanda Dyson.

However, with more firms moving onto the trading estate, parking has become a problem.

Both the county council's highways department and the local economic unit are seeking assurances that additional spaces are included in the Swaledale Cheese Company's expansion proposals.