More than 50 new jobs could be created if a planned expansion of Goodwin Steel Castings (www.goodwinsteelcastings.com) foundry site at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, receives council approval.

The company wants to increase the size of its moulding and melting shop, and the proposed expansion forms part of parent company Goodwin plc’s multi-million pound investment to enhance operations at the foundry.

It is hoped the installation of new facilities will also help the company to secure new orders, generate additional revenue and enable the heavy engineering firm to take on a further 25 new apprentices (it currently employs 125).

The company currently employs 500 people full-time between the Goodwin Steel Castings site and its sister company Goodwin International, in Trentham, which carries out machining, fabrication and assembly work on the castings produced by the foundry.

The planning application states: “The proposed development will not only safeguard existing jobs and create new skilled jobs and apprenticeships in an area where the council recognises there is a short fall, but it will also maximise development of a brownfield site with due consideration of the Caldon Canal Conservation Area.

“The overall development will be undertaken sympathetically.”

Gareth Snell, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, visited Goodwins as part of his election campaign and welcomed the company’s expansion aspirations.

He said: “They have shown how a local business can really get behind young people and provide high-quality apprenticeships, so anything they are doing that will help them build on that and provide jobs and training opportunities is something I welcome.”

The proposals will now be considered by planners at Stoke-on-Trent City Council .