A BOOMING New Forest firm is set to take on another 340 staff in a move that will more than triple its existing workforce.

Managers at Totton-based APW New Forest Ltd say the number of employees will soar from 160 to 500 over the next few years.

The good news comes just days after it was revealed that another Forest factory is to close with the loss of nearly 500 jobs.

Lymington is still reeling from the news that the town's biggest employee, Webbs Country Foods, is shutting its chicken processing plant on April 27.

But other employment opportunities are opening up in the north of the district.

APW New Forest Ltd is moving from the Calmore Industrial Estate at Totton to larger premises at Testwood House in neighbouring Netley Marsh.

The hi-tech company makes electronic equipment for the telecommunications industry.

News of its intention to take on a huge number of extra staff was announced at a meeting of the district council's planning committee.

Members approved the company's application to redevelop part of the Testwood House site.

A report to councillors said: "The company currently occupies three separate buildings on an industrial estate and employs 160 people. The recent success of the company means it has outgrown its current premises and is therefore looking to relocate to a larger site.

"The company envisages employing 380 people in the existing building at Testwood House, and this will rise to 500 if permission is granted for this extension."

Testwood House has been the subject of six planning applications in the past two years - all but one of which has been approved.

Councillors complained that long-awaited landscaping had not been carried out.

Development control officers said none of the previous planning permissions had been implemented, which was why no trees and plants had been put in.

But the applicant, Phillips and Drew Life Ltd, said a wall would be built straight away to protect people living next to the site.

An APW New Forest Ltd spokesman was unavailable to comment in detail on the plans.