Engineering firm announces plans for new plant after major land deal
A manufacturer of filtration products has unveiled plans for a 60,000 sq ft plant in Kidderminster.
St Francis Group has sold 3.6 acres of land at its 74-acre Silverwood’s Business Park mixed use development, which will be used for a new manufacturing, testing, warehouse and office facilities for Barton Firtop, enabling three existing sites to merge into a purpose built plant.
It is anticipated that the first phase of the development will provide 40,000 sq. ft. of facilities and employment for up to 100 people, with a phase two expansion planned to follow to increase this to 60,000 sq. ft. and potentially an additional 50 employees.
Kevin Troughton, managing director at Barton Firtop, said: “This is a really exciting time for the company enabling our current level of growth to progress to the next stage. Our company currently has space limitations and this problem is compounded by operating between three separate sites, so this new-build will enhance our capabilities and enable us to meet ever increasing capacity requirements, ultimately resulting in further increases in turnover and staffing levels.
“Over the last decade the company has more than doubled its staff base and with this acquisition it remains on course to expand further, based on the increasing demand for our filtration products that are supplied to clients around the globe.”
St Francis development director Gareth Williams added: “We are very happy to welcome Barton Firtop to our premier Silverwood’s Business Park development and to support their next phase of growth and expansion needs
“This deal follows several other land-sales during 2018 which now brings the park to practically 90% occupancy with only a few plots remaining. Silverwood’s is a real success story locally, creating much needed new housing, community facilities, leisure attractions and retail space in the process creating several hundred new jobs from the local community.”
John Dillon of GJS Dillon Commercial Property Consultants advised Barton Firtop on its acquisition, alongside Gavin Vickers from One Creative and Clare Regan at Whatley Weston & Fox.
