Thwaites will be moving to a new home in 2018, after full planning consent was granted for a new brewery, stables and head office.

Ribble Valley Council discussed the planning application last week and Thwaites has now been given the green light.

Illustration of new Thwaites headquarters and brewery

Chief Executive Officer Rick Bailey said: “This is great news. We’ve spent a long time developing the plans – we’re putting a substantial investment into the new site so it was important to get the details right.

“Receiving planning consent is a significant milestone and I’m now looking forward to building work starting.”

The building contracts are now being finalised before work starts on the site, in Mellor Brook, around five miles from Thwaites current home in Blackburn.

The plan will bring the brewery, stables, head office and heritage centre into a single location.

Mr Bailey added: “The design of the new buildings is modern and fits really well with the more rural location. Feedback about it has been extremely positive and staff are looking forward to seeing the new site take shape.”

Around £8m is being invested by Thwaites and work is expected to take over a year to complete, with the company hoping to move in spring of 2018.