A NEW reception building is needed to create “an important statement” a Morrison’s factory.

Farmers’ Boy on Cemetery Road is Morrisons’ food manufacturing facility.

The company has this week submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to build a new 265 square metre reception building in the factory’s car park which they say will provide a “warmer welcome” to visitors to the factory.

It will include reception space, meeting rooms and a demonstration test kitchen.

The application says visitors currently access the site through a galvanised gate turnstile and security intercom.

It adds: “This building is an important statement by the company offering a welcome to new customers as the business explores potential new external markets for the food products the factory currently manufactures.”

The development will allow customers to witness the “theatre” of the food manufacturing process.

It goes on to say that increased automation has led to fewer staff, meaning a chunk of car park can be used for this new site without putting pressure on spaces.

A bridge linking the new building to the factory could be added to the development in future.

A decision on the planning application is expected next month.