Martins Foods has applied for planning permission to build a flour silo at its bakery in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester.

In Capra Architects’ design and access statement for the proposed installation, it said the bakery provided a significant number of jobs to the area, and that “further expansion would allow these jobs to be maintained and possibly increased on this site, rather than moving production to other facilities in the Martins Foods chain”.

The bakery chain added that the installation of the silo would form part of a larger process of reorganisation and upgrading across the Martin’s chain of bakeries. The silo would be used for the storage of flour to supply the bakeries’ day-to-day operation.

The installation of the silo would ensure the site remains a viable business venture and that the employment it provided would be retained in the area, according to Capra.

The application was received by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council on 19 November, with the target decision date set for 16 January 2013.

Last month, British Baker reported that Martins Foods was to close its Southport bakery after it failed to agree a price increase with a major customer.

The closure, set for January 2013, will result in 35 job losses, with 10 employees to be transferred over to its other factory in Radcliffe.