Cassidy + Ashton helps lift planning restriction to unlock growth at Maelor Foods

Employing over 300 staff, Maelor Foods was established in 2014 and is a leading poultry processing company based in Wrexham. The company operates a state-of-the-art facility that processes over one million British Red Tractor-certified birds each week.

Led by Guy Evans, a director at Cassidy + Ashton’s Chester team, the breakthrough enables Maelor Foods’ facility to double its permitted capacity from one million to two million birds per week, removing the cap that has been in place since 2021.

The two-year case involved a team of planning and environmental consultants, led by Cassidy + Ashton, which won full approval from Wrexham Council’s Planning Committee in June 2025.

Key to the approval was a permit issued by Natural Resources Wales in 2024, confirming that Maelor Foods’ planning environmental investments would allow the site to expand while reducing its overall environmental footprint. Improvements included a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant and enhanced odour and noise mitigation measures.

Guy Evans said: “We’d like to thank Wrexham Council, in particular Matthew Phillips, for their collaboration and support. It has been a complex case but the result is an important win as Maelor is an ambitious local business which plays an vital role in the local economy and employment market.”

According to Cassidy + Ashton, the win and expansion is expected to create 125 new jobs and attract over £40million in investment in the coming years, with the wider supply chain benefits believed to be in the region of £165million.

“This is a hugely important moment for our business,” said Ricky Mehta, site director for Maelor Foods. “We’ve invested significantly in our people, our infrastructure and our processes to ensure that we are not only meeting demand, but leading the industry in responsible, sustainable poultry production.”