Plans for a huge £120 million expansion to leading Humber manufacturer Wren Kitchens’ main site have now been unveiled.
The proposal has formally been submitted to North Lincolnshire Council, paving the way for a further 1,200 jobs.
It would swell The Nest site it took on and transformed when Kimberly-Clark exited nappy production, with an initial new shift creating 535 jobs, but with capacity for two more.
Next month Wren will open its 80th showroom, as a fully integrated retail business too, as it looks set to become a half a billion pound turnover operation this year, having launched a decade ago.
First revealed last month, it is the largest investment in the history, with the facility - to the east of the existing operations off Falkland Way - spanning virtually one million square feet.
Mark Pullan, the company’s managing director, said: “This project will be the largest single investment in Wren’s history and having considered different locations both across the 海角视频 and abroad, we believe that developing the existing site in Barton provides us with the best solution.
“The new factory demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing in the 海角视频 and particularly the Humber region. We believe that continual re-investment in our business is essential to maintaining our current growth rate and subject to receiving planning approval, the project will be funded internally.”
Launched in East Yorkshire by Hygena founder Malcolm Healey, now chairman, it moved its now 1,600 employee strong HQ across the river in 2013, having also established manufacturing in Scunthorpe, to complement the original Howden facilities.
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Construction costs for the expansion are estimated at £47 million with 360 contractors at peak. The total £120 million figure includes fitting out the plant and machinery to replicate what is already achieved.
A new access road for the plant would also be created from the A1077 Barrow Road.
Wren claims the expansion will add £22 million GVA to North Lincolnshire annually, and in the application, it notes that its expansion comes at a time of uncertainty for the only private employer in the borough now bigger than it – British Steel.
A spokesperson said: “The expansion of the Wren Kitchens facility at Barton would be well placed to help offset some of the economic damage that would ensue if the current operation at British Steel were to be scaled back, moth-balled or even closed down altogether.”