Multi-million pound redevelopment of Sussex Mushrooms at Thakeham has moved a step closer with the submission of a revised planning application and first public exhibition this week.
Monaghan Mushrooms took over Sussex Mushrooms, now trading as Thakeham Mushrooms, last year. It has invested some £2.7 million in the business to ensure it continues trading and now proposes to streamline the mushroom growing operation within one building.
For the first time in 100 years mushroom compost will no longer be manufactured on site, but instead will be delivered from Monaghan’s Hampshire site in sealed containers and the spent compost will be similarly removed.
These works will require an initial investment of more than £6.3m, over half of which is proposed to be funded by a residential development - Abingworth - opposite the mushroom operation.
It is expected that the district council planning committee will meet in July to make a decision on the mushroom development work as planning for the residential development at Abingworth was granted last year. Monaghan Mushrooms and Abingworth Developments are overseeing the projects and met with residents and parish councillors on Monday at a first public exhibition of the plans in Thakeham village hall.
Mushroom production at Thakeham stands at 109 tonnes per week and 373 staff are employed at the site. The new project hopes to trigger a £3.75m enabling payment from the Abingworth housing project which would see production increase to 153t per week in the next two years and up to 400t per week backed by 560 staff by 2016.
A spokesperson for Abingworth Developments said: “In general we have had a positive response to our proposals for the mushroom operations. We had a good turnout on Monday and we have been talking to lots of people. Among employees at Thakeham Mushrooms, the general feeling is positive towards Monaghan and they see it as an opportunity for the business to get back on its feet.”
