PLANS to rebuild a factory in the Cotswold countryside have been approved after it was destroyed by a fire. 

The factory, that is located on Northwick Business Centre near Blockley and Paxford, caught fire in August last year and plans to rebuild have been approved by the council. 

The decision to approve the plans was made by Cotswold District Council.

The building was "severely damaged" by the fire and as a result there was only two walls remaining along with the concrete base. 

The remains will be demolished by David Horton Contractors Ltd and it is projected to take three weeks before Chipping Norton Builders Ltd can undertake the rebuild. 

An environmental health officer from CDC did have concerns about "vibration" during the demolition, however these concerns were alleviated through the knowledge that the base would not be removed and no breaker or piling equipment would be used.

In a report by Graham Smith, the case officer from CDC, he said: "The application seeks full permission for a replacement industrial unit following the previous unit’s destruction following a fire.

"The unit measures 7.7m by 33.2m (256sqm) and is 5.2m high.

"The proposal in terms of its length, width and height are similarly to the previous unit.

"The environmental health officer has raised concerns that the proposed demolition has implications over vibration and its impact on sensitive materials held within neighbouring units.

"Any piling works required would also raise the same concerns.

"The applicant has provided further information to address these concerns and therefore a condition is not considered necessary.

"The proposal is considered to comply with Local Plan Policies and is recommended for permission subject to condition."

The factory was being used to "blend chemical products" before it caught fire.

Firefighters were called to the address at around 8am on August 17 to tackle the blaze.

Coating Technologies Limited is behind the rebuild.

Northwick Business Centre was built from an old army barracks that dates back to the 1940s and is now home to over 90 units reused from the former Nissen-style huts.