A local brewery has the potential to create more lagers, ales and stouts should a Planning application to move its operation to Dockyard prove successful.

Dockyard Brewing Company has sought Planning approval to renovate an existing commercial space in a Listed Building at No. 3 Victualling Yard, Sandys, for a brewing facility.

David Littlejohn, who owns the North Rock Brewing Company in Smith?s, said he had the capacity to make 450 to 500 barrels of beer a year (with one barrel equalling 31.5 gallons) at his current brewery.

?The opportunity to change is there ,? Mr. Littlejohn said. ?But we are not doing so for now. It?s a brewery equivalent to the one here at North Rock.?

He added that the proposed Dockyard location would be better suited for brewing as it was all on one level.

?The site here in the restaurant is too small,? Mr. Littlejohn said.

?We already distribute between the two locations but we will have a much bigger space now.?

He said there was no need for renovations at the Victualling Yard ? where the British Navy?s food was once packed in the 19th Century before being stored in surrounding warehouses ? as he just planned on cleaning the building up and painting it.

?There will be no structural changes,? he said.

?Basically the clean-up has started already. Instead of trucking it from Smith?s to Dockyard, we now will be trucking it from Dockyard to Smith?s.?

Mr. Littlejohn added, pending Planning approval, he hoped to start making beer in Dockyard as soon as possible.

The West End Development Company (Wedco) had already accepted Dockyard Brewery?s business plan and granted permission for the partners to set up the brewery in Dockyard?s Victualling Yard.

Wedco leases Dockyard property to businesses for 21 years, and in order for any business to relocate Wedco must agree.

It was announced in June that Mr. Littlejohn had joined forces with Frog and Onion restaurant owner Carol West to form Dockyard Brewing Company.

This company was understood to be a formalisation of the business relationship between the two companies as Ms West has sold North Rock?s beer at the Frog and Onion for three years.