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Plymouth’s £56m turnover Interfish Ltd is planning a major expansion of its waterfront factory as demand for its products soars.

The company has been granted conditional permission to extend its fish processing plant at the Wallsend Industrial Estate, at Cattedown. The permission is for it to create a small two-storey extension, with a new space for equipment on the roof.

The development would create an additional freezer for the Plymouth fishing industry but documents submitted to Plymouth City Council said it is only the start of a much larger expansion, which is planned.

A design and access statement, produced by Plymouth architects at ADG, said: “They (Interfish) have expanded and developed their site over many years in response to increasing demand to supply a growing market.

“This application is a part of a major expansion that is proposed to meet these increasing demands for their product.

“There are, however, short-term immediate demands that require a rapid response to streamline the process plant within the factory and this is what is addressed within this planning application.”

It added: “The development will allow opportunities for the facility to increase production within a short period of time should the requirement be there as the º£½ÇÊÓƵ exits the EU.”

Interfish has been based in Plymouth since 1977 and, in addition to its factory, owns 10 fishing vessels which catch sole, plaice, monk, lemon sole, turbot, brill and cuttlefish, landing the catch at Plymouth.