A MAJOR Bradford company has revealed plans to move into one of the city’s new “Enterprise Zones,” and says the move will allow it to further expand.
Astonish is a family run company that produces cleaning products, many of which are popular with online cleaning guru Mrs Hinch.
The business is currently based on Staithgate Lane, off the M606, but has just submitted plans to move to Gain Lane as part of a £21 million investment in a new headquarters.
The move will allow the company to take on an extra 20 staff.
Work on the Gain Lane Enterprise Zone, which is being funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, began late last year. Once complete, the site will include 29,404sqm of industrial space, spread out over eight units.
Now a new planning application for Unit 7 at the site has been submitted to Bradford Council, and reveals that Astonish is planning a move to the site.
£10M BOOST: Work to begin on new Gain Lane 'enterprise zone' expected to bring 550 jobs to Bradford
Plans show that it will be the largest unit on the site, and the Company says around 100 staff will be based there.
The application is by West Yorkshire based Commercial Development Projects, which is preparing the site for development.
It says: “The development will facilitate the relocation and expansion of the firm Astonish, situated between junctions 2 and 3 of the M606.
“The proposals will enable the company, which has been in discussions over the past 12 months about relocating to the new site to enable their planned programme of expansion, to remain in the Bradford Council area.
“There is considerable support from Bradford Council to the proposal, and CDP have obtained approval from West Yorkshire Combined Authority for this transaction as part of the grant funding programme.”
Astonish has been based in Bradford for 40 years and produces over 60 household cleaning products. It is a second generation company.
The plans include a loading bay, parking for 103 cars and 44 sheltered cycle storage spaces.
Howard Moss, Managing Director at Astonish said: “We can confirm that we have purchased a 123,000 sq ft piece of land.
“Our vision is that this will house a state-of-the-art manufacturing site and head office, which including build and fit out will form part of a £21m investment.
“Ultimately, this will ensure we can continue to grow our business for many years to come.
“Having seen a 400 per cent growth surge in the last 10 years alone, it would allow the business to achieve its goal of £100m in sales turnover and 20 new team members, taking our total number of employees to 100 plus.”
A decision on the application is expected in November.
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