Howdens to expand Mersey factory by 200,000 sq ft

Joinery and kitchens giant Howdens employs 530 people at its 484,000 sq ft Liverpool city region manufacturing base and is set to increase the facility by a further 200,000 sq ft. Tony McDonough reports

Joinery and kitchens giant Howdens is set to secure planning approval for a 200,000 sq ft extension to its Liverpool city region manufacturing site.

Howdens, a £2.3bn turnover supplier of kitchens and joinery products to the building trade, employs 530 people at the plant in Runcorn producing rigid kitchen cabinets, worktops, and joinery doors.

Its site at Runcorn, off Astmoor Road close to the Mersey estuary, currently occupies almost 500,000 sq ft. However, the company’s operations are squeezed to the point where it has to use permanently parked HGVs to boost its storage capacity.

These latest plans would see the construction of an additional 117,800 sq ft of manufacturing space along with 52,000 sq ft of warehouse accommodation, 18,100 sq ft of storage racking and an external canopy area covering 15,400 sq ft.

A planning application has been submitted to Halton Council and the plans are likely to gain approval.

Although the expansion is not expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of people employed there it will safeguard the existing jobs. There will also be employment and training opportunities during the construction phase.

In its submission to the council on behalf of Howdens, planning consultancy Harris Lamb said: “Locally, the proposed scheme will secure the future of all jobs on the site– currently around 530 employees work there.

“The construction of the development will generate hundreds of new jobs for the duration of the build, many of which will be undertaken by local trades. Together with associated services, this will provide a huge boost to the local economy.

Construction work will likely generate new opportunities for young people entering the local construction industry. Social benefits are linked to the economic benefits with greater job security and the creation of new construction jobs for the build period.

“In addition, the proposed development will improve the working environment of all employees and visitors to the site.”

Howdens’ application will be considered by councillors at the next planning meeting on Monday, June 2.

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