David Brown set to move into top gear at new industrial site

The firm which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary as a world-class engineering institution wants to take the majority of its 400-plus workforce to a new 10-acre site on Leeds Road.

The proposed site is six miles away from David Brown’s site in Lockwood, Huddersfield, where the company has been headquartered for more than 100 years.

The planned development comprises two modern-looking buildings built with high-quality materials.

Construction on the 10-acre site is scheduled to begin next year with David Brown planning the move in separate stages and reaching completion in 2013.

The company says the move has become necessary to adapt and modernise manufacturing and test facilities, and increase capabilities.

Bosses hope the new site will allow for significant savings on maintenance, utilities and carbon tax costs, create a more attractive and efficient working environment for the staff based in Huddersfield, and will provide room for the creation of further jobs in the area.

They add that growth would be impossible to accommodate at the Lockwood site. The move is driven by David Brown’s work in new sectors like wind energy and high-speed rail and into new regions worldwide.

Wayne Ball, general manager at David Brown, said:

“The new facility will enable a step-change in productivity and operational effectiveness for David Brown.

“As we extend our global reach, the new site will allow David Brown to remain in the heart of the community, providing specialist research, development and manufacturing capabilities.”

Mike Dove, partner at property consultants, Dove Haigh Phillips, added: “This is a tremendous opportunity for David Brown and great news for the West Yorkshire economy – which will successfully retain a world-class engineering company. The move to a state-of-the-art site at Mirfield will boost Mirfield’s profile and prosperity.

“These are challenging economic times for the north of England and David Brown’s decision to pledge their future to this region must be warmly welcomed.

“The fact that a global company like David Brown wants to remain in West Yorkshire is very positive news.”

Earlier this year Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg warned there must be no “forgotten areas” of Britain after announcing a £2m green jobs boost for the firm.

It was the first in the region to receive cash from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, which aims to create private sector jobs.

The grant is to be matched by £2.8m from the company, which will fund a wind turbine research and development innovation centre creating dozens of jobs as the Government backs “green jobs”.

The company manufactures gear systems but is looking to expand into the renewable energy market by making special gears for turbines.

Kirklees councillor Martyn Bolt, (Con, Mirfield), said he had some concerns about the application relating to highways matters including potential gridlock at Cooper Bridge.

He said: “This has been a contentious site for at least a decade since it was included in Kirklees Unitary Development Plan. I am also concerned that there has been undue haste in processing this application.”

A number of objections have been expressed by residents including the loss of beautiful countryside and suggestions that proposed highways improvements are inadequate.

But a report for the Planning Sub-Committee (Heavy Woollen Area) due to meet on Monday is favourable and the application is expected to be approved by members.