Goodlife food factory on Newark Industrial Estate demolished without consultation with district council, but those responsible will escape punishment

A former food factory on Newark Industrial Estate is being demolished without the knowledge of the district council, but those responsible will escape and punishment.

The Advertiser was alerted to the demolition of the former Goodlife food factory by a reader.

The newspaper then approached Newark and Sherwood District Council who investigated and then finally issued a statement this week.

Roger Blaney, chairman of the council's planning committee, said: “Prior to any demolition, the persons involved are required to supply the district council with information relating to this, to allow us to assess the works and decide whether the formal ‘prior approval’ procedure is required. In this instance the necessary procedure was not followed, resulting in a breach of planning control without formal consent.

“However in accordance with national and local guidance, it was determined that it would not have been expedient to have taken formal planning enforcement action in this case as the proposed method of demolition has now been assessed and is considered acceptable given the location of the site and nature of the building in question.

“Following the demolition works, any future development of the site will require planning permission.”

100 jobs were lost in May of last year when Daloon Foods (UK) Ltd, which traded as Goodlife Foods, moving production to mainland Europe. It was the company's only remaining UK manufacturing base.

The vegetarian food manufacturer supplies products to Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado.