Unilever starts moves to sell part of its Port Sunlight site
Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever has started moves to sell part of its Port Sunlight site, including plans for new housing.
It is understood that staff will be relocated from the current research and development (R&D) buildings on the site to newer facilities at the Wirral operation.
The business, which makes home and personal care goods at the Port Sunlight factory, operates a significant R&D facility there, too.
In January this year, the group announced 225 jobs cuts at the Port Sunlight factory and research facility, where it employs around 1,800 staff making brands such as Dove, Lynx, Comfort and Domestos.
Around 750 scientiests work at the research centre.
The cuts were expected to affect IT, research development and factory support workers.
In the past few days the company delivered letters to the local community surrounding the plant informing them of the group’s plans to sell part of its land, although, due to restrictions imposed by the coronavirus lockdown, it said it could give no details regarding the timetable for the land’s disposal.
A Unilever spokesperson told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We shared details with our employees in February of a planned investment in one of our existing buildings on our Port Sunlight Research & Development site to create an upgraded laboratory, consumer centre, collaboration space and restaurant facilities, in one of our existing buildings on site.
“The intention is to also vacate buildings and sell part of the site which is adjacent to Quarry Road East and part of St Andrew’s Road.
“Our site was built more than 50 years ago and the way we do R&D has changed significantly during this time.
“Going forward, all our employees will be accommodated in the modern, leading-edge facilities we’ve recently invested in, including our Advanced Manufacturing Centre, the world-class Materials Innovation Factory at the University of Liverpool, and what will be our new, upgraded laboratory and workspace.”
The spokesperson added: “This is about investing in our Port Sunlight R&D site to create more modern facilities and making it fully fit for the future, and is not related to job losses for Unilever employees.”
