Durrans to mark 150 years with move to new HQ

The company will soon be moving into a new home, as it prepares to celebrate a significant anniversary.

The building and development company JF Finnegan has been appointed to build a multi-million pound headquarters for James Durrans and Sons in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, to commemorate the firm’s 150th anniversary.

James Durrans and Sons supplies carbon-based products to manufacturing industries, and operates from four UK factories.

It also has plants in China, India, South Africa, Germany and France.

The 11,200 sq ft, four-storey, office building will be developed on the same site in Penistone where the firm was founded in 1863.

The new HQ will overlook the River Don.

Forty staff will move from three buildings already on the site, and talks are underway to transform some of the old accommodation into new apartments for visiting guests and staff members.

Other buildings will be demolished to improve access to the new headquarters.

JF Finnegan has already cleared the site and is building the foundations of the underground car park.

The Sheffield-based contractor and developer is on course for a completion date of September 2013.

Chris Durrans, the managing director at James Durrans and Sons Limited, said: “In recognition of the long-term success of the company, we wanted to make a statement with our new headquarters and create an iconic building on the site where it all began.

“I would often return from visits to our overseas operations and wish that our headquarters reflected the company’s success, so that was a driving factor behind this development.

“Additionally, we needed a fit-for-purpose building, that would bring all our staff under one roof and create a modern, enjoyable working environment.

“As we are in a conservation area, we thought hard about creating a design that will stand the test of time and really add to the area.”

Dawa Singh, the head of pre-construction design and build manager at JF Finnegan, said; “We are pleased to be working with James Durrans and the chartered building consultant, Howell Goodfellow Consultants. This is an exciting, challenging project and one which will result in a spectacular, modern office building.

“The new facilities will create headquarters for the next 150 years of James Durrans and Sons.”

Leeds based HTC Architects designed the scheme.