Malton - the food capital of the North - welcomes agricultural firm

Richard Simpson, commercial director of Ripon Farm Services, said: “We are especially pleased to be moving to Malton, which has the enviable – and entirely justified – reputation as the food capital of the North.

"It is at the centre of North Yorkshire’s extensive agricultural community, which we are looking forward to serving."

The firm has received planning permission for a high-quality 22,000 sq ft building at the multi-million pound business park, which is located immediately off the A64 by the Pickering Road (A169) junction by Eden Camp.

Mr Simpson said: “This is a tremendously important move for us and a significant milestone in our 40 year old history.

“Our new flagship building will feature offices, training suites and meeting facilities for staff and customers and has been specially designed to accommodate our rapidly growing combine harvester business, including the John Deere X9. The new Malton location will be our twelfth depot in all."

Ripon Farm Services is one of the largest agricultural equipment dealers in the UK.

With a workforce of over 250, it is a John Deere main dealer and supplies world class agricultural machinery brands such as Kramer telehandlers, Kuhn cultivation equipment, Bailey Trailers and Sumo cultivators across Yorkshire, Teesside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.Construction work on the new building will begin at once, with completion and occupation scheduled for August next year.

Funding for the new depot was provided by HSBC.

Stephen Smith, relationship director for HSBC UK Corporate Banking, said: “The development of this depot will support Yorkshire’s agricultural sector, whilst also providing valuable local engineering jobs for the local community.

"Ripon Farm Services is well established in its field, so we’re pleased to support the business achieve it’s next stage of ambitious growth.”

Miles Lawrence is a director at York-based property consultants Lawrence Hannah, which is marketing Eden Business Park along with AWS Ltd on behalf of Yorkshire developers Commercial Development Projects (CDP) in conjunction with the Fitzwilliam Trust Corporation.

Mr Lawrence said: “We are delighted to welcome a company with such an excellent reputation as Ripon Farm Services.

"Their move is a ringing endorsement of the quality of Eden Business Park and marks the successful launch of Phase Two of the development.

“The speculative first phase of this development has proved to be a tremendous success story with all of the six industrial premises now occupied. The second phase will feature not just Ripon Farm Service, but also another high-profile occupier, who will be named shortly.

“This is both a reflection of the quality of Eden Business Park and also its superb location, with swift and easy access to York, the East Coast and to Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network. This is a winning combination."

Developer CDP said it is delighted that the business park, the largest speculative development in the area in the past 10 years, is proving popular, fulfilling a pent up demand for quality industrial units with offices.

Nick Arundel of AWS said: “This is a very important development for the Malton area.

"Its popularity so far is a vindication of CDP’s brave decision to develop speculatively in challenging economic times.”