Approval recommended for £12m animal feed manufacturing base
Hambleton District Council planners have recommended approval for leading North Yorkshire animal feed manufacturer, I’Anson Brothers to build a £12m production facility.
It will be the largest investment in the company’s 120-year history and a key part of its 2020 Vision to deliver a sustainable future for the business.
The 23,000 sq ft mill will be built at Dalton New Bridge, the next phase of the Dalton Industrial Estate in North Yorkshire.
The ultramodern facility has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible and will be one of the most technologically advanced feed mills in Europe. The increased production capacity will enable I’Anson to meet growing demand from existing customers, secure new orders, expand its export operations and continue to be a major supplier to the agriculture sector.
I’Anson currently employs 85 people from the local community. This latest investment will maintain the existing workforce and also create additional jobs at the production facility with more expected to follow as the company grows. It will allow I’Anson to expand its existing network of local producers, farmers and suppliers from whom it buys a large proportion of its raw materials for manufacture.
While council planners have said the building can be developed, the final decision will be made by planning committee councillors on 9 January.
Chairman and managing director Chris I’Anson said: “Hambleton Council has a four-year plan for the district called ‘Place to Grow’, in which it says it wants to be a place where businesses ‘grow their reach from local to global.’
“That certainly describes our company which was founded 120 years ago in Masham to serve local farmers but which now also exports to around 40 countries worldwide.
“When we decided to make the biggest investment in our company’s history to develop a new mill we looked at a number of attractive sites around the North of England.
“However, we were keen to retain our historic links with our local customers and suppliers along with Masham and the surrounding communities so the Dalton New Bridge site provided a perfect solution.
“We believe this development is great news for the company, our current and future employees and the local economy in which we are an important player.
“It is entirely appropriate that we are making our biggest single investment as a company as we celebrate our 120th anniversary in 2020. As well as helping to secure a sustainable future for the business it ensures we can continue to play our role in enabling the agriculture and farming industry to meet the challenge of feeding an increasing UK and global population.”
Once formal approval is granted, initial works on access to the site will start almost immediately, followed by the ground and civil engineering preparations. Construction of the mill itself is expected to begin in the autumn and last for 18 months. Completion and commissioning is scheduled for early 2022.
Founded in Masham in 1900, I’Anson has been based at its current mill for the past six decades. It supports over 3,000 customers regionally, nationally and internationally, exporting its specialist horse feed products to around 40 countries worldwide.
The business’s headquarters will remain in Masham, where it will continue to manufacture an extensive range of micronized feeds, speciality rations and horse feeds. The new facility will focus on the production of bulk farm feeds.
I’Anson added: “Throughout our long history we have continually invested in new technology to increase production volumes and operational efficiency. However, the physical limitations of our current site mean we have reached production capacity and it is constraining our ability to grow.
“We spent the first 60 years of the business in the centre of town, the next 60 years at our current mill on the edge of town and the investment we are now making is for the next 60 years of our story.”
