Knottingley’s Ardagh Glass, formerly known as Rockware, has been locked in a bitter battle with Quinn Glass in Chester, who built Europe’s largest glass-making factory without planning permission in 2003.

The application was called in by the Secretary of State at the time, Ruth Kelly, who ruled last year that planning permission should not be granted.

But last week Quinn Glass submitted a fresh application to Chester City Council which they say addresses the concerns she raised.

Bosses at Ardagh Glass fear if the Chester plant is allowed to continue operating, hundreds of jobs in the Knottingley’s glass-making industry will have to be axed.

Keith Swindell, finance director of Ardagh Glass UK, said: “Quinn did indicate that they would submit another application so we were expecting this.

“We are currently studying the application in detail, to see how they say it addresses the Secretary of State’s concerns, before we decide what steps to take next.”